“It’s frustrating,” Koeman said on Dutch television NOS. “I don’t understand it either. I think the captain can protest to the referee.” After a rude foul on Dortmund’s Donyell Malen, van Dijk called for the Hungarian Attila Fiola to be red. Just three minutes after the yellow card, van Dijk was sent off for a foul in the 79th minute. He will therefore miss the game on Monday in Munich against national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s selection. “The fact that Virgil then receives the second card is not helpful. He just had to keep running, but he knows that himself,” said Koeman.
Defender Denzel Dumfries is supposed to replace van Dijk as captain there. The Inter Milan professional saved at least one point for Oranje in Hungary shortly after being sent off. This means that the Netherlands are behind the German team that leads the table in the Nations League group after three of six match days. “The game will be even more fun against Germany,” said Koeman.
Van Dijk initially stated that he wanted to stay with the Dutch team. However, he revised this later in the evening. “I would have liked to continue supporting the team,” he said, “but I indicated that I would like to go home.” It is a good time to rest given the high stress of numerous games in the national team and with Liverpool.
