The fallout isn’t expected to stop at the dugout, with 34-year-old captain Van Dijk also expected to hang up his boots for the national team.
Despite his stature as the defensive pillar of the side, De Boer feels the Liverpool man may decide that he has nothing left to give at the international level. With the next major tournament being Euro 2028 - by which time Van Dijk will be 37 - a changing of the guard appears to be on the horizon.
“I think we’re going to hear that soon and I think also Van Dijk, he had the captain’s armband and he was an amazing captain, I think he will say probably that ‘this is my last game’,” De Boer added. “Yes a lot of criticism about not taking the team by the hand, but still, all the respect for Van Dijk because he has been a great captain, but sometimes it’s time to go.”