Virgil van Dijk found himself having to step in to settle a dispute between Liverpool teammate Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst while on international duty at the weekend.
Van Dijk led the Netherlands to a 4-0 win over Dominik Szoboszlai’s Hungary, although the game was overshadowed by the collapse of Hungary coach Adam Szalai early on. The game continued after Szalai was taken to hospital, with Szoboszlai and Van Dijk both commenting on the incident after the game.
Moments after play restarted, the Netherlands were awarded a penalty, with Weghorst stepping up to put his country in front – although he has received criticism for the manner of his celebration, given what had happened only minutes before with Szalai.
Just before half-time, the Dutch were handed another spot-kick, only this time there was clearly some disagreement as to who should be taking it. Weghorst and Gakpo argued as they both wanted the chance to double the lead, with Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman confirming afterward that Van Dijk had to step in to resolve the matter.
“Well, because we took penalties and it was Virgil, Wout and Cody (designated kickers). So then I also said: ‘Number one for the penalty is Wout’,” Koeman said.
“Only then a second penalty came and I didn’t see it well. But I think I saw that Wout was arguing with Cody about who would take that penalty. I shouted [at] Virgil: ‘You decide who takes it’. And in the end, Cody took it. Because they can both take a penalty well, but it never seems as fun and beautiful and good when two players fight about it.”
Eventually, the ball was handed to Gakpo, who slotted his penalty home to continue his recent good form. The 25-year-old has now scored in each of his last four starts for club and country, holding him in good stead for what is set to be a crucial run of fixtures when he returns to Liverpool.
Before then though, he will travel to Bosnia for the Netherlands’ final Nations League encounter this year. Arne Slot will no doubt be keeping his fingers crossed that Gakpo, Van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch come through that game unscathed.
Giving his own thoughts on the disagreement with Weghorst, Gakpo told ESPN: “Wout had to take the first one, so I thought: ‘I’ll take the second one’.”
