Virgil van Dijk is out of contract at Liverpool next summer and previously hinted that he was considering international retirement
Virgil van Dijk has admitted that he wants to play at the 2026 World Cup after previously hinting that he was considering international retirement. The Liverpool captain won his 75th international cap as Netherlands beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-2 on Saturday night.
The Dutchman, who also captains his country, made his first international appearance since the Netherlands’ heart-breaking last-minute loss to England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals back in July.
After their elimination, the 33-year-old, who is out of contract at Anfield next summer, had revealed that he was considering his future for both club and country in an emotional post-match interview – having been repeatedly criticised back in his homeland throughout the tournament.
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“After such a season, where all sorts of things happened and also such a tournament where all sorts of things happened, where I myself also got all sorts of things thrown at me, then this just hurts,” he admitted to reporters at the time.
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“I do everything to win and then it gets emotional at the end, because you know it’s over. I have no idea at the moment (about my future). I will think carefully this summer about what I want at club level and as an international. Then we will go for it again, but first recover from this.”
However, Van Dijk has now admitted that emotions perhaps got the better of him as he vowed to prolong his international career in a defiant message to his critics.
“I understood that it was unclear how I felt about it (his international future),” he conceded after beating Bosnia. “I was of course very disappointed after the match, then you are full of emotion.
“It may have seemed at the time that it could have been my last international match. But I am a warrior and a fighter and I will never just give up for Oranje.
“Ultimately, you have to look at your own abilities and assess whether you are still important enough. I most certainly am. On the field and off it.
“I am the captain of Liverpool, a consistent factor and I feel excellent physically while I am improving on the ball too.
“I want to play another World Cup. I know I am still more than good enough.”
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman had previously revealed that he flew to England to talk directly with Van Dijk regarding his international future ahead of the September international break.
“I noticed how Virgil was feeling, so I thought it was very important to visit him,” Koeman said. “He indicated that he wants to give it another two years, towards the World Cup.
“I also have that feeling about him, even though, as he also indicated, he did not reach his level at the last European Championships.
“He remains captain. He has done that very well and we also discussed how he can manage that better in combination with his own game.
“It is very positive that he stands for the group like this, but you have to reach your own level first. That’s the most important thing.
“He felt that he was too concerned with others. But it is not without reason that he was chosen for the best Premier League team (last season).”
