Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk admits that his side may have ‘overestimated themselves’ heading into Euro 2024.
Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk has admitted that his side may have ‘overestimated themselves’ heading into this summer’s European Championship.
Holland opened their Euro 2024 campaign with a 2-1 success over Poland on June 16 before drawing 0-0 with tournament favourites France in their second Group D fixture.
At that stage, Ronald Koeman‘s side were at the top of the group, but they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Austria in their final game in the section on June 25.
Netherlands were therefore forced to settle for third spot in Group D, but they still advanced to the knockout round of the competition as one of the best third-placed outfits.
Koeman’s side will now tackle Romania in the last-16 stage of the competition on Tuesday evening.
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Van Dijk accepts criticism of his team
Netherlands faced criticism following the defeat to Austria last time out, and Van Dijk has conceded that his team may have overvalued themselves heading into the tournament.
“I can completely understand the criticism,” Van Dijk told reporters. “Things overall can and should be better. Maybe we overestimate ourselves.
“A lot had to be said [following the defeat to Austria] and we had to analyse a lot. It was not the tactics where things went wrong. It was mainly the will to win, so we have talked about that and with harsh words.”
Van Dijk was picked out for his role in Austria’s third goal last time out, and the Liverpool centre-back has accepted that he needs to improve his own form.
“I’m not stupid. I also know that I can do better and that it should be better, and that’s what I’m working on,” the Liverpool defender added.
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Van der Vaart has been critical of Van Dijk
Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart was critical of Van Dijk for his role in the loss to Austria.
“It was a very bad match, in all respects,” he said after the contest. “We started weakly, with the ball, but also in the duels. Then you are behind the times. It was just a bad evening.
“We have to do much better, that’s clear. We played the way Virgil van Dijk just talked. There has to be some venom in there because it was a shame today.
“We just had to watch a disgraceful performance. I would like to see that from a captain in his interviews. I want to see some passion! The way I’m talking now.”
Netherlands won the European Championship in 1988 and have been semi-finalists on three occasions since, but they were eliminated in the last-16 stage of Euro 2020.
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