Heading into Euro 2024, quite a few football fans were backing the Netherlands as outsiders to win the tournament.
They have some top quality players in their squad, especially at the back. While there were some injuries in midfield and uncertainty surrounding their forward line, it was felt that they still had enough talent to make a deep run in Germany.
However, their form during the group stages suggest that such an outcome is unlikely.
They may have beaten Poland and drawn with France, but the Dutch were not exactly impressive in either game. They would follow up those performances with a 3-2 loss to Austria yesterday, a result that condemned them to a third place finish in their Euro 2024 group.
It was a poor showing from Ronald Koeman's side against the Austrians, with their star player now being singled out for criticism.
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Dutch Legend says Virgil Van Dijk responsible for Euro 2024 struggles
Virgil van Dijk is the leader of this Netherlands team, being widely regarded as their most talented player as well as being their captain. It was expected that the Liverpool star would lead a mean Dutch defence at Euro 2024, but he has not been at his best so far in the tournament.
His performance against Austria was certainly well short of the standards he has set in recent years. The third goal conceded by his side was particularly concerning from his perspective, staying well behind his defensive partners to play Marcel Sabitzer onside for the winner.
🇳🇱 2-3 🇦🇹
What a second half here. Marcel Sabitzer blasts home the lead goal for Austria#Euro2024
📺@rte2 & @RTEplayer https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ
📱 Live updates https://t.co/QbbSRljeA0 pic.twitter.com/DOvuB276mK— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 25, 2024
Virgil van Dijk still has plenty of time to redeem himself at the tournament, with the Dutch qualifying for the last-16 as one of the best third placed sides. However, some are not happy with the way he has led the team up to this point.
Speaking to Voetbul Primeur, Netherlands legend Marco van Basten said that the team is captain is the one that should be held accountable for their performances at Euro 2024.
He’s got to lead and he’s the one we’re going to hold accountable in the end. He has to organise things and he is responsible. He’s the great leader of the team and then you have to organise these kinds of things better.
Unfortunately, the criticism has not led to improvement, because it is actually the same points that are not going well for him.
In that respect, it’s a little disappointing. I’m sorry to have to say it again, but I can also keep my mouth shut.
Of course, this is not the first time that Marco van Basten has singled out the Dutch captain for criticism.
He also did so during the World Cup back in 2022, something Virgil can Dijk did not respond kindly to at the time.
The Netherlands will learn their Euro 2024 last-16 opponents after this evening's fixtures.
They will certainly need to vastly improve if they are to have any chance of making a deep run in the tournament over the next couple of weeks.
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