Dutch media didn’t hold back in their assessment of Virgil van Dijk’s performance as the Netherlands eased to a 4-0 win over Malta on Thursday night. Captain Van Dijk’s Liverpool teammate Cody Gakpo netted twice from the penalty spot, while Tijjani Reijnders and Memphis Depay also got on the scoresheet to keep Ronald Koeman’s men at the top of Group G.
With next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico on the horizon, the Oranje will be viewed as potential dark horses. Having reached the Euro 2024 semi-finals and maintained a strong core of key players, the Dutch side remain a formidable force.
However, Van Dijk’s latest display left some observers concerned that cracks might be forming in defence. At 34, the Liverpool skipper has long been a symbol of composure and dominance, but his showing against Malta drew uncharacteristically harsh reviews from the press.
Football Oranje gave him the lowest rating of any player, marking him 5/10 after a performance that included one clearance, one error leading to a shot, four losses of possession, and two fouls — one of which earned him a booking. “Almost gifted Malta a goal early on with a terrible back pass and was booked in the second half for a silly push. Not his finest night,” they wrote.
Voetbal Primeur rated him even lower at 4.5/10, commenting: “With a dramatic back pass, he gave Malta a golden opportunity to open the scoring after two minutes. The nonchalance was clearly gone. Van Dijk continued to look weak afterward and, to top it off, received a yellow card.” Voetbal Zone scored him 4/10, and Voetbal International gave him 5.5/10.
By contrast, Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber earned widespread praise for his composed performance, seemingly outshining his captain. Micky van de Ven also impressed, offering hope that the next generation of Dutch defenders is ready to take the reins.
After the game, TV pundits Rafael van der Vaart and Pierre van Hooijdonk criticised the overall performance, prompting Van Dijk to respond in an interview with Voetbal Flitsen:
“The guys in the studio know how difficult this can be. Have they forgotten that? It often seems that way,” he said.
Van Dijk urged understanding for the team, adding: “We’re on track for the World Cup. It may not be pretty, but it’s effective. Sometimes, that’s enough.”
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