Virgil van Dijk Sparks War of Words with Rafael van der Vaart

Virgil van Dijk sparked a war of words with Rafael van der Vaart after the former Netherlands midfielder criticised his defending in the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan on 18 Jun. Van der Vaart compared Van Dijk to a Boeing 747 airplane due to his perceived sluggish turning speed.

What did Rafael van der Vaart say about Virgil van Dijk?

Van der Vaart made the comments while analysing Japan's late equaliser on Dutch television, suggesting Van Dijk had reacted too slowly to the danger. He said Van Dijk's turning was "a bit of a Boeing 747" and hoped he would "run a little faster during the tournament".

The comments quickly became a talking point, particularly as Van Dijk had scored and was later named Player of the Match. Van der Vaart's criticism was seen as unfair by many, given Van Dijk's impressive performance.

How did Jurgen Klopp respond to Rafael van der Vaart?

Jurgen Klopp brushed off Van der Vaart's criticism and questioned his credibility as a pundit. Speaking on German television, Klopp suggested Van der Vaart rarely offers positive assessments of players. He said he was willing to take Van der Vaart seriously again if he ever said something positive about a player.

Klopp also accused Van der Vaart of expressing his opinions in a "flowery way" before dismissing the controversy as "not that important". Van der Vaart faced further criticism after making comments about Japan's players, suggesting they "look alike", which were widely condemned as racially insensitive.

Why Rafael van der Vaart was criticised for Japan comments

Van der Vaart apologised for the comments, but the incident generated significant attention and added to the scrutiny surrounding his punditry during the tournament. The controversy has overshadowed Van Dijk's impressive performance at the World Cup, with the Liverpool captain scoring and helping the Netherlands secure a 2-2 draw with Japan.

Van Dijk's performance has been a highlight of the tournament so far, with the defender showing his class and skill on the pitch. Despite the controversy, Van Dijk remains focused on the tournament and is determined to help the Netherlands succeed.

What is Jurgen Klopp doing now?

Jurgen Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023/24 season and now serves as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer, overseeing the company's soccer operations across a number of clubs and projects around the world. He has made media appearances during the 2026 World Cup, largely with German broadcasters, and has been vocal in his support for Van Dijk.

Klopp's defence of Van Dijk has been seen as a testament to the strong relationship between the two, with Klopp having managed Van Dijk during his time at Liverpool. Van Dijk has been a key player for the Netherlands at the World Cup, and his performance has been praised by many, including Klopp.