Virgil van Dijk anchors Netherlands defence ahead of final World Cup
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk faces an unprecedented physical burden as he leads his nation into the World Cup following a gruelling domestic season.
The Liverpool centre-back will turn 35 before the tournament’s quarter-finals but remains indispensable to manager Ronald Koeman.
He has already played almost 6,000 minutes of competitive football for club and country this season.
Seeking redemption on the global stage
The veteran defender heads into what is presumably his final global tournament with an unusual undefeated record.
He has never lost a World Cup match over the course of 90 or 120 minutes.
The Oranje crashed out of the 2022 tournament in Qatar on penalties to eventual winners Argentina.
Their skipper missed the opening spot-kick against Emiliano Martinez during a fiery quarter-final encounter dubbed the Battle of Lusail.
Mounting pressure and missing partners
Koeman will rely heavily on his defensive leader during a challenging group stage featuring Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
The pressure on the 34-year-old is compounded by the sudden loss of key personnel around him.
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the World Cup through injury, forcing a late tactical reshuffle.
At club level, the former Southampton man has also recently seen his trusted Liverpool defensive partners Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate depart.
A demanding domestic campaign
The Dutch skipper recently admitted that Liverpool’s domestic season was unacceptable, despite providing vital stability for new club manager Arne Slot.
He faces an immediate reunion with club team-mate Alexander Isak when the Netherlands take on Sweden in the group stages.
History could yet repeat itself for the Dutch national team in the United States.
Manager Koeman saw his own international playing career end with a World Cup defeat on American soil 32 years ago.