The Netherlands wouldn't have been expecting to drop points in Group A against Ecuador on Friday, especially with Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence.
The Ecuadorians, however, surprised fans and pundits alike with their exciting attacking play, and managed to take a draw out of Friday evening's game to put themselves in a fantastic position to qualify for the knockout stage.
Their equaliser came through Enner Valencia, who capitalised after Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert spilled the ball back out into his six-yard box.
49' 🇳🇱 1-1 🇪🇨
We're all square - Enner Valencia taps home the leveller for Ecuador.
📺 Watch live on @rte2 & @rteplayer - https://t.co/lu7hcoznl8
📱 Live updates - https://t.co/VLjo2HQpSq #FIFAWorldCup #NEDECU pic.twitter.com/kypSmwstIu— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 25, 2022
Dutch legend Marco van Basten, however, laid the blame for the goal at Virgil van Dijk's door - kicking off a war of words between the pair.
Virgil van Dijk: Dutch defender embroiled in war of words with Marco van Basten
Virgil van Dijk's brilliance cannot be denied, even if he has struggled at times this season in Liverpool's back four.
He played a crucial role in the Netherlands keeping a clean sheet in their World Cup opener, but one Dutch legend thought he was to blame for Ecuador's goal against De Oranje on Friday evening.
Speaking on Dutch TV, Marco van Basten questioned van Dijk's inaction as Valencia strode in for the rebound, saying that the centre half needed to be "on top" of Valencia, and that he had just "let him shoot".
When asked to comment on van Basten's analysis, van Dijk gave a prickly response:
I don't think he is ever positive, so what am I supposed to do with it? It's easy to talk from the studio. Me failing as a captain? What do you want me to do with that info? I am always up front. I lead the team the best way possible.
The spat between the pair did not end there.
Marco van Basten was offered a chance to respond to van Dijk's comments, and savaged the Liverpool defender:
He doesn't take the lead. He takes care of nothing in the team. He makes a sound, but he doesn't say anything, this is what he does.
Van Basten was the key man when the Netherlands won their only major international tournament at EURO 88, and led the national team to the quarter finals of EURO 2008 as manager.
Given his pedigree, his comments on Virgil van Dijk will have raised eyebrows, but they are certainly harsh.
Van Dijk will hope that he and his teammates can do their talking on the pitch in the final group game against Qatar on Tuesday, as they aim to bring the World Cup back to the Netherlands for the first time ever.
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