Holland coach De Boer blasted for not fighting Liverpool over Van Dijk Euros commitment | OneFootball

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·14 May 2021

Holland coach De Boer blasted for not fighting Liverpool over Van Dijk Euros commitment

Article image:Holland coach De Boer blasted for not fighting Liverpool over Van Dijk Euros commitment

Holland coach Frank de Boer is being criticised for not doing more to secure the Euros commitment of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

The Netherlands suffered a major blow to their Euro 2020 chances following Van Dijk's announcement that he won't take part in the tournament. The defender insisting his knee won't be ready for the tournament.


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De Telegraaf says with Van Dijk considering his options De Boer rested on his laurels while Jurgen Klopp “increased the pressure" through the media.

Klopp and others at Anfield were said to be 'horrified' by reports in March that Van Dijk intended to play at the European Championship, despite having not featured since suffering a serious knee injury on October 17.

But Oranje sources say Van Dijk would have been a valuable asset within the Dutch squad given he's such an influential presence, even if he was prevented from playing in the opening rounds.

Van Dijk announced he was “very gutted" to miss the Euros but explained his reasoning: “In this latest stage for myself, I have come to a decision that I had to make: would I be involved in the Euros, yes or no?

“With everything that is going on, I feel physically it is the right decision that I've decided not to go to the Euros and to go into my last phase of rehab during the off-season."

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