Hughes
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'Pseudo-leader' - Dutch media criticise Van Dijkās Euros campaign
They did not hold back.
Hughes
Isnāt there a third place playoff game? I bet Van Dijk plays it.
No there isnāt.
Because I was curious, I looked, and the last time one was played was 1980. Czechoslovakia beat Italy on penalties.
They did not hold back.
The Dutch may have a reputation of being blunt, but this isnāt it. This is acting like cunts.
Van Dijk is the best player theyāve produced in a decade, the best defender in the world for a number of years and still may be, but at 33 and having played 60+ games, he couldnāt lead his country to a final that had no business reaching in the first place, talent-wise. Apparently, thatās enough for pundits to go off rails and talk disparagingly. Not the first time itās happened either.
Van Dijk should fuck them off, let them see how far they go with De Ligt in his place. Ingrate pricks, theyād be out of a job if they didnāt have someone like him to talk about.
Reading Lijndersā book, itās actually Virgil himself (and he certainly isnāt among the minority at that level) who often pushes to play in certain games (League Cup, par example) where he could be rested or more minutes than planned in pre-season friendlies. Utimately the decision is with the management of course.
Nearly 5000 mins for club and country in 59 games. This guy needs a good rest.
I think the big injury did take something off him somehow. But yet even then, he is world class still. If he didnāt have that injury, that ceiling might have been blown through the roof and there will be no doubt he would have been lauded as the best CB ever. But even now, he is one of the best at 33. Media just love criticising Liverpool players