Dutch Media Deliver Verdict on Virgil van Dijk After Netherlands’ 4-0 Win Over Malta

Dutch media have delivered a blunt and brutally honest assessment of Virgil van Dijk’s display in the Netherlands’ 4-0 victory over Malta on Thursday night. While the scoreline suggests a dominant performance from Ronald Koeman’s men, the captain’s individual showing drew criticism from several top football outlets in the Netherlands.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo was the standout performer, netting twice from the penalty spot to put the Oranje firmly in control. Tijjani Reijnders and Memphis Depay added further goals as the Dutch side continued their impressive run in Group G, staying top of the table with the World Cup qualifiers nearing their conclusion.

With next summer’s World Cup set to take place across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the Netherlands are being quietly tipped as one of the dark horses to make a deep run in the tournament. Having reached the Euro 2024 semi-finals, the core of the Dutch squad remains experienced, confident, and well-drilled under Koeman. However, their defensive stability — long considered a strength — came under scrutiny following Van Dijk’s uneasy showing against Malta.

At 34, Van Dijk remains one of Europe’s most respected defenders and the emotional leader of both Liverpool and the national team. Yet, Thursday’s performance sparked debate about whether age might finally be catching up with him. Several Dutch media outlets described his play as “sloppy,” “careless,” and “uncharacteristically uncertain” — words rarely associated with the normally unflappable centre-back.

Football Oranje handed Van Dijk the lowest rating of the night, giving him a 5/10. The outlet detailed several concerning moments, including one clearance, one critical error that led to a Maltese chance, four losses of possession, and two fouls — one of which resulted in a yellow card. “Almost gifted Malta a goal early on with a terrible back pass and was booked in the second half for a silly push. Not his finest night,” their report read bluntly.

Voetbal Primeur went even further, rating him 4.5/10 and suggesting that his performance lacked the composure fans have come to expect. “With a dramatic back pass, he gave Malta a golden opportunity to open the scoring after two minutes. The nonchalance was clearly gone. Van Dijk continued to look weak afterward and, to top it off, received a yellow card,” their report added.

Meanwhile, Voetbal Zone offered an even harsher assessment with a 4/10 rating, and Voetbal International was slightly more lenient, giving the captain a 5.5/10. The consensus across the board was that Van Dijk had an unconvincing evening, even if the result was never in doubt.

In stark contrast, Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber earned plaudits for his controlled and composed performance at the back. The 24-year-old was praised for his confidence on the ball and excellent positional awareness, which seemed to overshadow his captain’s shaky moments. Micky van de Ven also impressed, with many analysts suggesting that the younger generation of Dutch defenders could soon begin to challenge Van Dijk’s once-undisputed status in the starting XI.

After the final whistle, Dutch TV pundits Rafael van der Vaart and Pierre van Hooijdonk didn’t hold back in their post-match analysis, questioning the overall sharpness and tempo of the national team’s play. Their remarks appeared to strike a nerve with Van Dijk, who later addressed the criticism during an interview with Voetbal Flitsen.

“The guys in the studio know how difficult this can be. Have they forgotten that? It often seems that way,” Van Dijk remarked with clear frustration. The veteran defender defended his teammates, emphasizing that results matter more than style at this stage of the campaign. “We’re on track for the World Cup. It may not be pretty, but it’s effective. Sometimes, that’s enough.”

Despite the backlash, Van Dijk’s leadership and experience remain vital to Koeman’s plans. The Dutch boss has consistently backed his captain, praising his influence in the dressing room and his ability to guide younger defenders. Whether this criticism marks the beginning of a gradual passing of the torch or simply a blip in an otherwise stellar career remains to be seen.

For now, Van Dijk will look to bounce back quickly when the Netherlands face tougher opposition later this month. The captain’s resilience and professionalism are beyond question — and if history has shown anything, it’s that Virgil van Dijk knows exactly how to silence his cri