Van Dijk isn’t just the leader for the Reds at Liverpool FC, captaining them to dominant performances over the years, winning the Premier League, and finishing inside of the top three multiple times in the last couple of reasons – he is also the leader of the Netherlands national team.
The Netherlands national team is looking strong for the upcoming Euro 2024 competition after the final squad list was announced the other day. There are key players on the roster who can add depth, provide scoring abilities, increase the technical ability in the midfield, and topple the best teams, like France or Germany if they play their cards right.
And with Van Dijk’s headers, goal scoring, shot stopping, long passing, and commanding in the back line, the Netherlands look like they could dominate some games this summer.
Van Dijk’s Performance vs. Iceland is Promising
Van Dijk helped lead his team to victory, motivating the younger Xavi Simons and helping him get his first international goal in a friendly game against Iceland to prepare for Euro 2024 in just a couple of months.
And the Dutch haven’t just upset a top team – they are ranked in the top 10 according to FIFA heading into the tournament. The Netherlands national team isn’t anyone to look down upon, as this seventh-ranked squad has come to play in this international tournament. They have key players who can make a difference in every game, like Xavi Simons from Barcelona, Virgil Van Dijk from Liverpool, and Memphis Depay from Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga.
Xavi Simons is a young and talented Dutch footballer who currently plays for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. He previously played for PSG in the French Ligue 1, where he made seven appearances at a young age over two seasons, and PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, where he made 34 appearances and scored 19 goals. Now, he is a key player for Leipzig, having started 32 matches, scored eight goals, and provided eleven assists for his teammates.
Virgil Van Dijk is one of the best footballers to ever be in the Premier League. He joined Liverpool back in 2017 and has been on a roll ever since. Despite the 2020-2021 season where he was injured, he has played in over 30 matches every single season, being the stalwart in the back line who wins challenges, stops 1v1 attacks, and drives home headers from crosses and set pieces.
Memphis Depay is another key Dutch footballer who will help the Netherlands to victory this summer. Depay currently plays for Atletico Madrid after joining in 2022 and has since made 23 appearances in matches this season, adding five goals and one assist to his team’s stats. For the Netherlands, he has taken the field twice this year, adding one goal to the mix.
Also Read: Copa America 2024: Top 3 Stadiums for Best Fan Experience
The Netherlands Looking Forward
Now, Virgil Van Dijk and his squad are looking to continue their positive momentum and do even better than they did in Euro 2020 when they failed to make it past the round of 16. They don’t even want to remember the Euro 2016 campaign when they failed to qualify for the group stages. In the previous Euro in 2012, they were sent packing during the group stage.
Now, Van Dijk, Depay, Simons, and other key players will be the backbone of the team that will ideally propel them out of the qualifiers and groups ages to reach the latter part of the competition.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
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