Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Virgil van Dijk slammed the suggestion that he had forced Ronald Koeman into changing his Netherlands tactics at the World Cup as “utter nonsense”.
The Netherlands were knocked out of the World Cup in the round of 32 on penalties by Morocco – after a 1-1 draw – having gone unbeaten throughout their group stage.
Van Dijk served as Koeman’s captain throughout the tournament, with the 63-year-old leaving his position following their early exit.
In a press conference ahead of the Netherlands’ Nations League clash with Germany, Van Dijk clashed with reporters after it was insinuated that he was involved in tactical shifts.
Koeman had played a back four throughout the group stage, where they won two of their games and drew the other, before switching to a back five for their clash with Morocco.
“One of your colleagues also said, of course, that it was my idea to switch to playing with a back five. That is utter nonsense,” Van Dijk told one reporter.
“The fact is we simply failed at the World Cup. Those are the hard facts.
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) September 22, 2026
“We didn’t play a good World Cup. It’s not about me. You perform together; you’re a team. Your claim that I destroyed Dutch football after the World Cup – that sort of thing is completely baseless.
“The plan is devised by the staff. Nonsense is being spread so that I look even worse. That happens far too often.
“I was told that it was my fault we played with five, that Ronald Koeman and I have destroyed Dutch football.
“The plan worked for 89 minutes, even though it was a bad match. We almost broke through. The idea that I destroyed Dutch football makes absolutely no sense. I didn’t decide that.”
Van Dijk will continue to captain the Netherlands under new head coach Xavi and could win his 100th cap in this extended international break if he plays in all four of their Nations League matches.
The first of which comes at home against Germany on Thursday.
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