‘I’ve decided’: Virgil van Dijk on his plan for the European Championships | OneFootball

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that he has decided he will not be playing at the European Championships for his country this summer.

The Dutchman has revealed that he is not ready, physically, to compete for the Netherlands in the Euros next month and will not be available for selection.

Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, van Dijk opened up on his decision not to represent his country. “I feel physically it is the right decision that I’ve decided not to go to the Euros.

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“It’s tough, but I’m at peace with it.

“I think the decision to not go is the right decision in the grand scheme of things.

“I am very gutted to miss the Euros, to miss the European Championship and leading out my own country there, but things have been like they have and I have to accept it – we all have to accept it.”

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Van Dijk is best placed to make an informed decision on his plans for the summer. He has been working with Liverpool’s medical staff since October and he will have all the medical details required to make sure that he is making the right choice, so Frank de Boer and the Netherlands supporters will have to respect that and hope that he can return for the World Cup in 2022.

From Liverpool’s perspective, this could be a huge boost for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Instead of going to the European Championships and potentially risking an injury set-back, van Dijk can now spend the summer preparing himself for pre-season. Hopefully, that will allow van Dijk to feature in pre-season for the Reds before making his competitive return at the start of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

That being said, it is a rough blow to van Dijk. The 29-year-old has never played in a major tournament for his country and this was his first chance to be involved in the European Championships. Van Dijk could now be eyeing up the 2022 World Cup and be praying that he will be fit enough to play for his country in that tournament to make up for the disappointment of this summer.