Van Dijk confronts Dutch journalist who claimed he 'destroyed football' after World Cup exit

Virgil van Dijk publicly confronted Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen at a Netherlands press conference, firing back at accusations that he had “destroyed Dutch football” following the national team’s elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Morocco on penalties.

Driessen, writing for De Telegraaf, had alleged that Van Dijk and former Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman “betrayed everything our national team stands for” by deploying a back five — a system the journalist suggested was adopted specifically to shield the 32-year-old Liverpool defender. Koeman has since left his role following the defeat.

When asked what went wrong at the tournament, Van Dijk addressed the criticism head-on. “One of your colleagues also said, of course, that it was my idea to switch to playing with a back five,” he said. “That is utter nonsense. The fact is we simply failed at the World Cup; those are the hard facts.”

Driessen pushed back in the room, suggesting Van Dijk seemed unusually terse and that the media was still getting under his skin. The Liverpool captain was unmoved. “I’ve never had anything against the media, but when nonsense is being sent out there… We didn’t play a good World Cup. It’s not about me. You perform together; you’re a team. Your claim that I destroyed Dutch football after the World Cup — that sort of thing is completely baseless.”

Before Driessen could respond, a Netherlands press officer stepped in to end the exchange.

Van Dijk remains a central figure under new Netherlands head coach Xavi as the team begins a fresh cycle. The Dutch are set to open their new era against Germany before facing Serbia twice, with a game against Greece also scheduled in between.