Virgil van Dijk dismisses ‘nonsense’ over Netherlands’ World Cup exit

Virgil van Dijk has rejected claims that he advised former Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman to use a five-man defence in their World Cup 2026 defeat by Morocco, calling the story “nonsense”.

The 35-year-old Liverpool defender faced questions from Dutch journalists after the Netherlands were eliminated in the last 32 following a 1-1 draw with Morocco and a 3-2 defeat on penalties.

Van Dijk addressed the reports at a news conference on Wednesday alongside his new manager, Xavi Hernandez, ahead of the Netherlands’ Nations League match against Germany on Thursday.

The story claimed Van Dijk had suggested that Koeman alter the team’s approach and play with five defenders against Morocco. The defender said the report, attributed to De Telegraaf journalist Valentijn Driessen, had been exaggerated and wrongly presented as a major reason for the Netherlands’ exit.

“One of your colleagues, Valentijn Driessen, claimed that I suggested playing with five defenders against Morocco,” Van Dijk said.

“That is nonsense. This story has been blown completely out of proportion, as if it was the reason we were knocked out. It was not.”

He added: “The tactical plan is not my responsibility and, at the moment, I am not thinking about playing with five defenders. All kinds of nonsense have been circulating, and it happens far too often.”

Van Dijk also objected to the way he and Koeman had been portrayed in the aftermath of the tournament.

“Koeman and I were made out to be the guilty parties, as if we had destroyed Dutch football,” he said.

The defender then addressed Driessen directly, saying: “You said that I destroyed Dutch football, but you know nothing about that.”

Van Dijk again denied having any role in deciding how the Netherlands lined up against Morocco.

“I did not decide for the Dutch national team to play with five players,” he said.

He also said he believed he was judged more harshly in the Netherlands than elsewhere, and suggested the media had contributed to that perception.

“You and your colleagues contribute to this,” Van Dijk said. “I see a difference in the way I am viewed in the Netherlands and in the rest of the world.

“If you analyse my career, we should all be judged in the same way. I do not feel that I am judged like everyone else.”