Virgil van Dijk has discovered himself going through unrelenting criticism from his dwelling nation through the years, and right here Joe Baker unpacks his curious relationship with the Netherlands.
“Within the dressing room he’s good, soccer tactically and technically, not…”
“He was chosen for the World Group of the Yr. He thinks he’s higher than the remaining.”
“It’s truly very unusual that such an excellent participant does so little for the Dutch nationwide staff within the build-up.”
The above is only a collection of quotes from two of essentially the most well-known names from Dutch footballing historical past, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, broadcast on TV inside the final couple of years.
You’d suppose they had been discussing a younger growing participant or a senior professional whose greatest years are lengthy behind them. But they’re not. They’re sticking the metaphorical boot with relish into the captain of the Netherlands, Virgil van Dijk.
Sure, don’t alter your display settings or test what was in your final espresso [insert beverage of choice]. That’s the identical Van Dijk who’s a Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Tremendous Cup and Membership World Cup winner.
The one with nearly 300 appearances for Liverpool and 77 caps for his nation, 59 as captain. The one who as soon as was runner-up for the Ballon d’Or and went a complete season with out being dribbled previous.
The one broadly considered – and never simply by Liverpool followers and pundits – as top-of-the-line centre-backs of his technology who might be remembered as one of many most interesting defenders to ever grace the English recreation.
We all know that unhealthy takes from pundits desirous to make some noise can occur. But such strongly held views on Van Dijk simply appear too far faraway from the overall consensus amongst the broader soccer public. As if a famend movie critic has simply informed you that The Godfather is in truth a load of garbage.
Nonetheless, right here is the factor. From a close to half-decade of dwelling within the Netherlands, I’ve come to grasp that this notion of Van Dijk is just not merely held by well-known ex-pros sitting in matchday studios. It’s much more widespread than we’d suppose.
And, following his sending off in his final Oranje look, the Van Dijk questions have sprouted their heads once more forward of the following spherical of worldwide fixtures.
So, why is it that many in his homeland have such a unique view of Van Dijk in comparison with the remainder of us?
Dutch idea of a centre-back
For those who had been to ask a Dutch soccer fan to go to a lab and create their ideally suited worldwide centre-back, he in all probability wouldn’t truly be Virgil van Dijk.
Sure, the person from Groningen naturally has lots of the required conventional traits, equivalent to his energy within the air, studying of the sport and power within the deal with. Nonetheless, a number of of the weather which have made Van Dijk world-class – and outline his manner of taking part in the function – should not appreciated in the identical manner by these from his homeland.
One of many quotes above pertains to Van Dijk’s passing from the again. Absolutely you possibly can’t criticise him for his passing when he’s so assured and dependable on the ball? Mistaken.
The problem with having had traditionally high-quality progressive centre halves is that every one present ones are anticipated to play the identical manner. In case you are not doing all of your greatest imitation of Ronald Koeman (the previous centre-back, not the present supervisor), then you aren’t doing the function justice.
In terms of ball retention and taking part in it between the strains for midfielders to choose up – from Alex McAllister to Frenkie de Jong – Van Dijk is great. But the Dutch count on their centre-backs to be the perfect passers on the pitch, dictating all the pieces and kick-starting assaults.
It’s one of many the reason why the sensible Frank Rijkaard, predominately a central midfielder, performed on the again when the Netherlands received Euro 1988.
Moreover, through the years, the Dutch have gotten used to having high-intensity centre-halves who’re continuously seeking to play on the entrance foot. This contains commonly stepping confidently into midfield with the ball and being extraordinarily aggressive in tackles, attempting to instantly step in entrance of strikers to win the ball.
Once more, while Van Dijk has at all times had the capability to do these items, they aren’t the defining options of his extra suave type of defending based mostly on clever and calm studying of area and time.
To steal a Jurgen Klopp trope, the Dutch search rock-and-roll defenders. But Van Dijk has at all times been extra Mozart than Led Zeppelin.
A brand new technology
All nice issues come to an finish ultimately. And in terms of a world-class participant like Van Dijk, the toughest factor is figuring out when to step away for pastures new, or for a coach to make the daring name to part the person out with the longer term in thoughts.
With the Netherlands, Van Dijk might be nearly 35 come the following World Cup in 2026. Regardless of nonetheless taking part in at a great degree for membership and nation, there was a rising college of thought over a number of years now that it’s time for a extremely gifted – and nonetheless comparatively inexperienced – technology of centre-backs to be given their alternative and common recreation time at worldwide degree.
That the present Dutch pool of centre-backs is so deep signifies that any dip from their captain is shortly pounced upon.
Doubts rightly persist over the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, however the Oranje do have two extremely gifted – and naturally left-footed – gamers pushing for Van Dijk’s function in Micky van de Ven and Jorrel Hato, the latter touted as the following generational expertise to come back via the famed Ajax academy.
With extra choices now making their declare at left-back, Koeman may additionally start taking part in Nathan Ake again in his pure function on the left facet of central defence. The likes of Lutsharel Geertruida, Jan Paul van Hecke and the versatile Jurrien Timber may all arguably make a case for a extra distinguished function, as may Newcastle United’s Sven Botman as soon as absolutely match once more.
One other getting talked up for a primary cap is Sam Beukema, an important participant within the Bologna staff that impressively certified for the Champions League final season.
In contrast to his Liverpool future, the place Van Dijk is anticipated to signal a brand new contract, he has but to present any indication of his worldwide plans. One has to imagine he’s focusing on what would solely be a second World Cup.
For a participant of his stature to have solely appeared in soccer’s most prized match as soon as is a travesty, however the highlight on his kind is extra intense than ever earlier than.
Has he left his worldwide mark?
Pretty or not, elite gamers are held to elite requirements. And, regardless of main the Netherlands to the Euro 2024 semi-finals and a Nations League Closing, a sense additionally persists in his homeland that Van Dijk hasn’t really stepped as much as present his membership kind in worldwide tournaments.
A slight based mostly on his manner typically in interviews, or obvious lack of apparent vocality on the pitch, is that representing his nation doesn’t imply as a lot.
Certainly, solely within the final couple of weeks, Arne Slot has expressed his confusion in a press convention in regards to the Dutch criticism of his No. 4 and his performances for his nation, referencing how their captain by no means misses a global recreation regardless of the extraordinary fixture schedule and fatigue.
Slot stated: “How on earth you possibly can criticise a participant that’s performed each recreation for us and performed the Euros…that’s Dutch media!”
Quite a few components mix to make sure success in a match – luck being one in all them – and there are arguably far higher limits to what a centre-half can do in comparison with ahead gamers.
Regardless of his consistency, moments linger within the Dutch nationwide consciousness, equivalent to his penalty miss within the World Cup 2022 quarter-final in opposition to Argentina. Though he would by no means admit it, if Van Dijk had been to retire from worldwide soccer tomorrow, there can be a tinge of remorse that he was not capable of obtain extra.
He didn’t play in both Euro 2016 or World Cup 2018 on account of a failure to qualify, with him lacking a lot of the latter’s qualifying marketing campaign via harm. The harm curse struck once more to rule him out of the delayed Euro 2020.
There isn’t any assure that top-level gamers will affect worldwide tournaments – simply take a look at Erling Halaand and Norway. But, as one of many Netherlands’ few really world-class gamers of the previous decade, Van Dijk has steadily turn into the lightning rod for his nation’s worldwide disappointments in that interval.
Notion is a humorous factor in soccer. The worldwide profession of Virgil van Dijk has been removed from a failure, even when it hasn’t mirrored the heights he has achieved within the home recreation.
With Koeman’s facet now going via a interval of transition, will probably be attention-grabbing to see what occurs to a participant admired overseas however arguably by no means correctly appreciated at dwelling.
