
Matthijs de Ligt has responded to criticism from Virgil van Dijk, following the Liverpool captain’s remarks after a couple of costly mistakes by De Ligt during the recent international break with the Netherlands.
Despite being on the bench throughout Euro 2024, De Ligt was called upon by Dutch manager Ronald Koeman to start in two matches due to Stefan de Vrij’s injury.
However, his performances against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany were marred by errors, contributing to goals conceded.
Against Bosnia, the Netherlands managed a 5-2 victory, but De Ligt’s slip-up allowed Germany to score an equalizer in a 2-2 Nations League draw. He was substituted at halftime for Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.
After the match, van Dijk offered a candid assessment, stating, “This is football. You have to learn from this. It was one moment, but at the highest level, you will get punished for it.”
Van Dijk’s comments were seen by some as harsh, especially given De Ligt’s admiration for his teammate.
De Ligt has long expressed respect for van Dijk. In 2022, when asked if their defensive partnership could be the best in international football, De Ligt praised his fellow Dutchman, telling ESPN, “Virgil is one of the best centre-backs in the world. He has already shown for a couple of years that he is one of the best, if not the best.”

Virgil van Dijk (L) and Matthijs de Ligt (R). Credit: Imago Images
His admiration, however, did not shield him from van Dijk’s blunt feedback.
Reflecting on his performance against Bosnia, De Ligt acknowledged his own error, admitting, “I should have done better at their second goal, and I know that.”
He went on to explain that he had been indecisive during the play, saying, “I should have cleared the ball, but I kept having doubts during the play. It’s just frustrating.”
The 25-year-old, who has been a part of the national team setup since he was 17, has struggled to secure a consistent starting role for the Netherlands.
Despite his difficulties, De Ligt remains determined to learn from his mistakes, as van Dijk advised, and continue developing at both club and international levels.
