Van Dijk refutes Van Gaal's claim 'World Cup is fixed'

Netherlands Virgil van Dijk and the Netherlands players disagree when coach Louis van Gaal said Argentina was set up to win the 2022 World Cup.

The Dutch national team gathered this morning, September 5, to prepare for the Euro 2024 qualifiers, but the issue that has attracted media attention is the statement made by former coach Van Gaal the night before. "The way Argentina scored against the Netherlands, or the way they repeatedly went over the line without being punished, shows that this tournament is rigged," the 72-year-old coach said. "I'm honest, Messi should be the World Cup champion."

Center-back Virgil van Dijk speaks at the Netherlands national team's training session in Zeist on the morning of September 5, 2023. Photo: NOS — Center-back Virgil van Dijk speaks at the Netherlands national team's training session in Zeist on the morning of September 5, 2023. Photo: *NOS*

Van Dijk said he heard Van Gaal's comments this morning, but disagreed. "Everyone has their own opinion, and Van Gaal has the right to say what he thinks," the Dutch captain said. "However, I do not share his opinion."

When asked about the current Dutch team's views, Van Dijk added: "We do not support Van Gaal's opinion."

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken also said the entire Dutch team discussed Van Gaal's statement this morning. "If that is Van Gaal's opinion, he has the right to share it with everyone. But I do not agree with his opinion."

Van Dijk took the first penalty for the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Martinez then saved Steven Berghuis' shot, helping Argentina win 4-3 in the shootout.

The match was dubbed by the media as the “Battle of Lusail” because referee Mateu Lahoz had to hand out 18 yellow cards, breaking the record for the most cards in a single match at the World Cup. Mr. Lahoz was criticized for handing out too many yellow cards, but ignored the situation where Messi deliberately used his hand to play the ball.

Netherlands 2-2 (3-4 pens) Argentina — Main developments of the match between Argentina and the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Van Gaal led the Netherlands to the World Cup finals twice, but both times they lost to Argentina in the knockout round, including the 2014 semi-finals and the 2022 quarter-finals. He and his students used psychological warfare before the match in Lusail, when they thought Messi was Argentina's weak link. But the 36-year-old superstar scored, assisted and scored in the first penalty shootout of the match. After scoring, Messi also ran in front of the Dutch coaching staff to provoke. In the post-match interview, he also called striker Wout Weghorst an "idiot".

Van Gaal resigned as Netherlands coach immediately after this match, and has not coached any other team since. Coach Ronald Koeman returned to the position, with the goal of helping the Netherlands qualify for Euro 2024. They are currently second to last in Group B, but have two games left.

Hoang An

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