There are some football opinions that make you stop and listen.
And when that opinion comes from Wesley Sneijder, I’m definitely listening.
The former Netherlands midfielder has been speaking about Virgil van Dijk after another night where Liverpool’s captain showed exactly why he remains so important to his country.
The Netherlands found themselves 2-0 down against Greece, but somehow fought their way back into the game.
And who got them started?
Virgil van Dijk.
The Liverpool captain rose to the occasion again, scoring the goal that gave the Netherlands hope before Tijjani Reijnders completed the comeback with a late equaliser.
For me, that is Van Dijk all over.
Sneijder understands what Van Dijk means
Sneijder’s comments about Van Dijk were brilliant.
He basically described him as the player he wishes the Netherlands had possessed during his own international career, praising him as one of the greatest defenders of the modern era and pointing out that when things get difficult, Van Dijk steps up as captain.
That’s some praise coming from Sneijder.
We’re talking about a player who knows exactly what it means to represent the Netherlands at the highest level. He was part of that incredible Dutch generation that reached the 2010 World Cup final and also played at the 2014 World Cup.
So when someone like Sneijder says he would have loved to have Van Dijk alongside him during those years, I think Liverpool supporters should appreciate just how significant that is.
And I particularly liked the point about Van Dijk scoring goals.
Because he does.
When Liverpool or the Netherlands need something, he has a habit of appearing.
Look at that goal against Greece
The Netherlands were in trouble.
Two goals down away from home and heading towards what would have been a hugely disappointing result.
Then Van Dijk scores.
It wasn’t just another goal on his international record.
It changed the mood.
Suddenly the Netherlands had something to chase.
Suddenly Greece had something to protect.
And suddenly the Dutch players had a reason to believe they could get back into the match.
That’s exactly what Sneijder was talking about when he said Van Dijk’s goals give the whole team hope.
I’ve watched Van Dijk do this for Liverpool so many times.
Sometimes it’s a goal.
Sometimes it’s a huge defensive intervention.
Sometimes it’s simply him taking control of a situation and calming everybody down.
That’s what being a captain is about.
It’s not just wearing the armband.
This is why I still wouldn’t swap Van Dijk
I’ve seen plenty of discussions over the years about whether Liverpool should be looking towards the next generation of centre-backs.
Of course they should.
Liverpool have to plan for the future.
But there is a massive difference between planning for life after Van Dijk and deciding that Van Dijk isn’t good enough anymore.
He is still incredibly important.
And watching him for the Netherlands only reinforces that for me.
He played the full game against Greece and, despite the disappointing first half, was part of a Netherlands side that improved dramatically after the break. Van Dijk himself described the first half as unacceptable afterwards, but focused on the positives from the comeback. ([NOS](https://nos.nl/artikel/2633349-gemengde-gevoelens-bij-oranjespelers-spel-van-tweede-helft-moet-vanaf-begin?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
That tells you something else about him.
He doesn’t hide from responsibility.
He doesn’t pretend everything was brilliant.
He knows when the team hasn’t been good enough.
But he also knows how quickly things can change.
Liverpool are seeing it too
That’s why I’m really pleased with the way Van Dijk has started this season.
There were questions about his future during the summer, with reports of interest from AC Milan and Barcelona, but Liverpool kept their captain.
For me, that was important.
Not just because of what Van Dijk does defensively.
It’s everything else.
The leadership.
The experience.
The organisation.
The communication.
And now you’ve got Jérémy Jacquet beside him, with the youngster gaining experience from playing alongside one of the best defenders of his generation.
That’s massive for Jacquet.
And it’s massive for Liverpool.
Van Dijk doesn’t have to play every single game forever. He doesn’t have to be Liverpool’s centre-back for the next five years.
But while he’s still capable of producing performances like this, I want him at Anfield.
Sneijder’s words mean something
This is probably the biggest thing I took from Sneijder’s comments.
He wasn’t simply saying Van Dijk is a good defender.
He was talking about what Van Dijk represents.
A player the Netherlands can look towards when things aren’t going their way.
A leader who can change the mood of a match.
A defender who can score when his team needs him.
And someone whose experience has been earned at the very highest level.
The Netherlands have now drawn 2-2 with Greece after falling two goals behind, leaving them third in their Nations League group after three matches.
There were plenty of things for Xavi and his players to worry about after that first half.
But Van Dijk wasn’t one of them.
He was part of the reason they came back.
And that is why I completely understand why Sneijder has given him so much praise.
Liverpool fans should appreciate him while we can
I’ve probably said this before, but I don’t think we appreciate Van Dijk enough while he’s still playing.
One day we’ll be watching somebody else wear that Liverpool shirt and we’ll be telling younger supporters just how good Van Dijk was.
We’ll talk about the pace.
The positioning.
The aerial ability.
The passing.
The calmness.
The trophies.
The ridiculous defensive performances.
And the goals.
But above everything else, I’ll remember the feeling of knowing that when Liverpool were in trouble, Van Dijk was there.
Sneijder has basically said the same thing about the Netherlands.
And coming from a Dutch legend who knows exactly what that generation was missing at the biggest tournaments, I think that’s pretty special.
Van Dijk isn’t finished.
He’s still the Netherlands captain.
He’s still Liverpool’s leader.
And when the pressure is on, he’s still capable of standing up and saying:
“Right. Follow me.”
That’s why Wesley Sneijder’s praise means so much.
And that’s why, as a Liverpool supporter, I’m very happy Virgil van Dijk is still ours.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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