Van Dijk is ready to give his everything in the FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 in Qatar. He feels that the Dutch side is stronger than ever and can win the World Cup.
After a difficult 1-0 victory in Ajax, Holland emerged as the clear group 4 champion of the UEFA Nations League after holding firm under intense pressure from Belgium.
With a powerful header from a corner in the 73rd minute, Virgil van Dijk gave the Netherlands victory and an undefeated Nations League campaign at the Amsterdam Arena.
Virgil van Dijk on the World Cup
“WE’RE GOING FOR IT. WE’RE GOING TO GIVE EVERYTHING.
HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE A SPECIAL WORLD CUP”
They came in second position with 16 points, six more than Belgium, who had a chance to overtake them and go into first place but needed to beat them by at least three goals on Sunday.
However, any thoughts of a goal feast were swiftly dashed as the two teams engaged in a close tactical struggle and basically cancelled one another out.
Although both teams had about identical amounts of possession (45% to 55%), the visitors had a greater chance to break the tie but were eventually unsuccessful.
Dutch pressure prevented Belgium from establishing attacks, and the visitors’ five-man defence left little opportunity for the home strikers.
Following his red card in Thursday night’s 2-1 victory over Wales, Belgium manager Roberto Martinez was suspended. Thierry Henry assumed control of the team from the sidelines.
Amadou Onana set up Eden Hazard for a shot, but he missed it after only four minutes, costing the visitors a perfect start.
Other first-half opportunities fell to Michy Batshauyi, Axel Witsel, Timothy Castagne, and Onana as Belgium had the better of the chances and Thibaut Courtois, their goalkeeper, was generally trouble-free.
After two halftime substitutions, the Dutch improved, as Denzel Dumfries, Steven Bergwijn, and Davy Klaassen were all stopped as the home team started to find more space and Belgium lived precariously at the back in the game’s closing moments.
With the game’s last kick, replacement Dodi Lukebakio came within millimetres of scoring a dramatic equaliser for Belgium, which may have forced a tie.
Even though we wanted to win, the game wasn’t very good. We should have performed better, but we also had to put in a lot of effort when against a squad with many talented players. However, victory was the most crucial,’ Van Dijk said to Dutch NOS television following the game.
