Virgil Van Dijk Out Of Netherlands Squad

Liverpool center back Virgil Van Dijk has withdrawn from his national team due to personal reasons ahead of the Oranje’s clash against Estonia on Tuesday after securing qualification for the Euro 2020.

The Netherlands secured their qualification for the Euro 2020 after a 0-0 draw against Northern Ireland yesterday and their captain has played a vital role in getting his team back into the continental competition. But the 28-year-old defender will be missing from footballing action for the Netherlands in their last European Qualifier against Estonia after the defender withdrew from the national squad due to ‘personal reasons’. The Dutch FA has provided no further information about their captain’s withdrawal which means that there is no particular injury for the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.

Virgil van Dijk is the fifth Liverpool player to withdraw from their national side during this international break. Mohamed Salah had earlier withdrew his name from the Egyptian squad due to an ankle injury while left-back Andy Robertson withdrew from the Scotland squad for similar reasons. Center-back Dejan Lovren and attacking midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri were also absent from their respective national side’s after the former was suspended for Croatia while the latter missed out due to injury for Switzerland.

Van Dijk has captained the Oranje to 2^nd on their Group C table and the top spot is still up for grabs as Germany is also in action but the Dutch center-back will not play at the Johann Cryuff Arena against Estonia.

A short statement from the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). The national team confirmed Van Dijk’s absence as it read, “National team coach Ronald Koeman cannot rely on Virgil van Dijk on Tuesday against Estonia. The captain of the Dutch national team has to [miss] the game due to personal circumstances and has since left the Oranje training camp.”

The Netherlands will be making their first appearance in the European Championships next year after losing all of their group matches during the 2012 edition of the prestigious continental competition.

However, Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool will be hoping that Van Dijk is back in action for the Reds’ trip to Selhurst Park next weekend.