'Sloppy' Virgil van Dijk slammed by Dutch media after World Cup frustration
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored for the Netherlands in the country's 2-2 draw with Japan at the World Cup on Sunday, but Dutch media criticized the defender's overall performanceVirgil van Dijk is facing criticism(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was labeled "sloppy" by Dutch media despite scoring as the Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan at the World Cup.Cody Gakpo also came under fire while Ryan Gravenberch escaped criticism. Following a scoreless opening period, Van Dijk powered home a controversial header to put the Netherlands ahead.It was Anfield colleague Gravenberch's delivery that he converted in the 51st minute, with Gakpo joining his teammates in celebration.
Gravenberch turned creator once more as West Ham's Crysencio Summerville notched the Netherlands' second.But Van Dijk and his teammates were pulled level again when Koki Ogawa's header deflected off Daichi Kamada to ensure a share of the spoils. Despite his goal, captain Van Dijk faced some criticism from the Dutch press for his defensive display, as did Gakpo, while Gravenberch received praise.ADAssessing each player's performance in the stalemate, publication AD awarded Liverpool's Van Dijk a 6/10, but noted some first-half work that fell well short of expectations.The report reads: "In the first half, he [Van Dijk] was sloppy in his passing and somewhat clumsy in defence, when [Ayase] Ueda briefly escaped his attention."The Netherlands drew 1-1 with Japan on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)Gravenberch, meanwhile, was awarded a 7/10: "Gravenberch pulled the Netherlands out of a dead end.
His good through ball to Summerville didn't result in a goal, but his well-placed cross to Van Dijk did. After the break, he did have a few good actions, but the attacker could not (yet) shake off the tough year at Liverpool at the World Cup."De TelegraafLiverpool's skipper fared no better in De Telegraaf's assessment.The publication wrote: "The joy of Van Dijk's 13th goal ever for the Oranje was short-lived, as defending far too passively and Micky van de Ven 'forgetting' to step out and play the offside trap meant that Nakamura fired home seven minutes after the opening goal."The outlet's head of soccer, Valentijn Driessen, was equally forthright in his assessment of Van Dijk's performance, stating: "Van Dijk denies everything.