Virgil van Dijk is contemplating his future at both club and international levels following the Netherlands’ heart-wrenching exit from Euro 2024. In a dramatic semi-final in Dortmund, Ollie Watkins scored a last-minute goal to secure a 2-1 victory for England, leaving Ronald Koeman’s team stunned and eliminated.
This latest defeat adds to the Netherlands’ history of near-misses, marking their seventh exit at the semi-final stage of either the World Cup or European Championship. Only Germany has endured more semi-final heartbreaks with eight. Van Dijk, who recently celebrated his 33rd birthday, now faces crucial decisions about his career moving forward.
Post-match, the Oranje captain was non-committal when asked about his future with the national team and his club career. Entering the final year of his contract with Liverpool, speculation about his next move is rife. “I haven’t the slightest idea right now,” Van Dijk admitted. “I will think carefully this summer about what I want at club level and as an international player.”
Van Dijk emphasized the need for reflection and recovery after an emotionally taxing season. “After a season like this, where all kinds of things have happened, it gets emotional at the end because you know it’s over,” he said. His words reflect the weight of the decisions ahead and the impact of a challenging season on his perspective.
