Virgil van Dijk, captain of the Netherlands, has pledged his future to the national team until the 2026 World Cup. Coach Ronald Koeman recently confirmed that the door is closed on Steven Bergwijn following his transfer to Saudi Arabia. Koeman flew to Liverpool for a face-to-face meeting with Van Dijk to discuss his commitment to the team. The coach expressed that all doubts are gone, and Van Dijk is still focused on performing at the highest level.
During the Euro 2024 semi-finals, the Dutch team, under Koeman’s leadership, lost to England. Despite this, van Dijk’s performance as the team’s captain was acknowledged. Koeman mentioned that Van Dijk admitted to not reaching his expected level during the European Championship. Bergwijn, on the other hand, was not considered for selection after a poor start to the season at Ajax Amsterdam and his subsequent move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
Koeman emphasized the importance of players prioritizing their sporting ambitions over financial gains. He mentioned that he hasn’t considered midfielders Marten de Roon and Georginio Wijnaldum for future squads as he explores other options. Daley Blind has already announced his retirement from the national team, while Memphis Depay, who is currently without a club, was also not called up by Koeman for the upcoming matches.
Memphis Depay, who recently left Atletico Madrid, has been reported to be in talks with Sevilla. Koeman cited Depay’s lack of a club as the primary reason for not calling him up to the national team. The Dutch team is set to face Bosnia & Herzegovina in Eindhoven before hosting Germany in Amsterdam. The coach expressed optimism regarding Depay’s future prospects, stating that if he secures a new club and regains fitness, he remains an option for the national team.
