'Rubbish': Critic launches astonishing attack on Virgil van Dijk | OneFootball

Richard Hughes secured a huge contract win last year when he got Virgil van Dijk signed up until 2027.

At a time of great upheaval tying down the captain on a £400k per week contract was a significant coup. As Liverpool struggle with the transition from one era to another at least Van Dijk is on hand to provide leadership and continuity in defence.

Admittedly the Dutchman hasn’t been at his best for his club - or for his country - during a difficult campaign. The 34-year-old has conceded a career-high four penalties this season and looks less assured than a younger version of himself.

No doubt Liverpool’s failures in other areas - midfield in particular - are exposing Van Dijk a little more this term. Witness his struggles against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals as evidence.

'Rubbish' VVD will cost Netherlands the World Cup

And those limitations have now been brought into stark focus by a columnist - who has described Van Dijk’s form as “rubbish” and suggested that Ronald Koeman’s squad will have their captain to blame if they go out of the FIFA World Cup at the group stages.

Responding to a prediction from a German economist Joachim Klement that the Oranje would WIN the North American tournament Nico Dijkshoorn in Het Nieuwsblad was absolutely scathing.

Having watched Van Dijk up close for the recent international friendlies against Ecuador and Norway - as well as the aforementioned Champions League game - Dijkshoorn is predicting a Van Dijk-led disaster.

“My prediction after that game: the Netherlands will be eliminated in the first round,” he writes as cited by Soccernews.

“Hopeless. They are going to get thrashed by Japan and Sweden. The reason: the Oranje captain.

“Virgil is going to single-handedly ruin the World Cup for the Netherlands.

“To be honest: I didn't need Liverpool's match against PSG for that.

"For an entire season now, Virgil van Dijk has been acting like an unassailable captain. Liverpool has been a sinking ship for months, but who is standing there acting just as confidently at the helm: Virgil.”

Van Dijk will be Oranje's undoing

Adding to his diatribe Dijkshoorn believes Van Dijk has been “overtaken on all sides” for months.

“It is precisely this character trait that will be Oranje's undoing,” he says.

“Virgil van Dijk's total denial that his displayed game is nothing but rubbish is going to be Oranje's undoing. That is why I think the Netherlands will be eliminated quickly...”

It’s uncertain just why this journalist has such a vendetta against Virgil - who has been one of Liverpool’s better players in difficult circumstances this term.

Hopefully the £75m man can use this criticism as ammo to help the Premier League champions fulfil their only remaining season objective - qualifying for the Champions League - and lead the Dutch side deep at the World Cup.