Rafael van der Vaart criticizes Virgil van Dijk’s performance and pleads with the Liverpool captain

Rafael Van der Vaart has hit out at Virgil van Dijk’s performance in Holland’s defeat to Austria and called on the Liverpool defender to show more passion when representing his country.

Van Dijk captained as Ronald Koeman’s side lost 3-2 to Austria and surrendered the opportunity to win Group D. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo restored parity for the Dutch early in the second half, but a lack of focus of Virgil van Dijk played Marcel Sabitzer. into the game to score an 80th minute winner.

Holland had already booked their place in the last 16 of the European Championship before Tuesday’s game, but that was not enough to encourage former Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid midfielder Van der Vaart, who launched a scathing attack on Van Dijk and of his team… teammates after the game.

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“We played (the game) like Virgil van Dijk just spoke! We just had to see a shameful performance!” the 41-year-old said while working for Dutch broadcaster NOS. “I want the captain of our country to show passion!”

Holland’s qualification for the knockout stages of the competition comes as one of the top four third-placed teams in the group stage and has the potential to set up a clash with England in the latter stages of the competition.

Van Dijk has started all three of Holland’s games in this summer’s finals, while his Anfield team-mate Gakpo has scored two goals in three starts.