Virgil van Dijk has been accused of ‘ruining Dutch football’ and told that his ‘time is up’ as local media tore into the Netherlands after their insipid exit from the World Cup.
Ronald Koeman’s men crashed out on Tuesday morning at the hands of an energetic and daring Morocco side, who were the better team and should have won in normal time but needed a penalty shoot-out to do so.
And Van Dijk, captain of both Liverpool and his national team, has been blamed for Netherlands’ early exit and ultra-defensive style which ‘betrays everything our national football stands for’.
Writing in De Telegraaf, journalist Valentijn Driessen said: ‘The way the Dutch national team presented itself to the whole world, defensively and without any initiative, is a great disgrace.
‘Koeman and his captain Van Dijk betrayed everything our national football stands for in Monterrey. By opting for an ultra-defensive style of play, Van Dijk did not have his defensive affairs in order during the World Cup group stage.
‘But no matter how many defenders you surround him with, Van Dijk has had his time.
Virgil van Dijk has been accused by journalists of ‘ruining Dutch football’ afte their World Cup exit to Morocco
Dutch journalists have called for him and manager Ronald Koeman to be moved on
‘Just like national coach Koeman, who has simply failed terribly.
‘You shouldn’t deviate from your idea when it comes to penalties, he said before the clash with Morocco, but a national coach who, after four years of work, starts juggling his lineup and tactics two days before the first knockout match is no longer up to the task.
‘Before Oranje sets foot on Dutch soil after this elimination, the KNVB (Dutch FA) must part ways with Koeman. Top-level football is ruthless, the national coach himself said.
‘He has failed in this second phase of his tenure as national manager, having not won a single match against a top 25 country in four years. He completely fell through the ice in Mexico.
‘By adding even more defenders to relieve his buddy Van Dijk, he helped them sink deep into the pit.’
He added: ‘It is time for a breath of fresh air and a fresh start for the Dutch national team. Without Koeman and Van Dijk.’
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