Virgil van Dijk will captain the Netherlands at the upcoming World Cup, as coach Ronald Koeman has emphasized. The 34-year-old defensive leader has not shown his best form this season at Liverpool, but Koeman firmly believes in his captain's abilities. "When he is on the pitch, he is a great defender," Koeman said, highlighting van Dijk's strong personality as crucial for team dynamics.
Koeman also spoke about the importance of the upcoming match against Japan, which will take place on Sunday at the Dallas Stadium. He stressed that van Dijk plays a key role both on and off the pitch in maintaining a positive atmosphere within the team. Given the captain's advanced age, Koeman suggested that this could "very likely be his last World Cup." He also confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who had been nursing an injury, is fit and will start in goal.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
