VIRGIL VAN DIJK faced a World Cup injury scare, revealing he “couldn’t feel” a portion of his leg during the Netherlands’ impressive win over Sweden.
The Liverpool captain was pivotal in the Dutch team’s stunning 5-1 victory on Saturday night, but concerns arose when he reported discomfort following a heavy collision.
Following the match, Van Dijk disclosed that he briefly lost feeling in his upper leg after a strong knock to his hip.
The 34-year-old assured that he doesn’t think the issue is significant but remarked on the unsettling experience during a competitive game.
Van Dijk reflected on the event, saying: “I took a hard hit to my hip, and I lost sensation in my upper leg, which was a bit odd. However, it was likely just a pinched nerve.
“I doubt it’s serious, but we will assess it shortly.”
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The Dutch skipper is set to remain a central figure for Ronald Koeman’s team and aims to make history in the upcoming group encounter against Tunisia.
Currently, Van Dijk is on par with Dutch legends Johan Cruyff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Frank de Boer, and Ruud Krol, each having made seven World Cup appearances as captain.
A starting spot against Tunisia would allow him to surpass them, securing his position as Holland’s captain with the most World Cup appearances in the nation’s history.
Van Dijk was not the only Dutch player dealing with fitness issues during the match.
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Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong also noted he played through a knock sustained during training earlier that week.
De Jong mentioned there were uncertainties about his ability to start the match, but he ultimately made a significant contribution to the Dutch team’s strong performance.
He remarked: “We collided in practice, and I ended up with a minor injury, but in the end, I was fine. We’ll monitor it, but I’m hopeful.”
For now, both players seem optimistic about their fitness as the Netherlands looks to solidify its position in the knockout rounds after securing two wins out of two in the World Cup.
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