Virgil van Dijk ruled out of Netherlands duty with injury
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has been ruled out of the upcoming international matches through injury, just hours after he looked set to join the squad.
The Netherlands have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the international break. Captain Virgil van Dijk, the experienced Liverpool centre-back, will miss the upcoming matches because of an injury.
A quick change of plans
Everything appeared to be in place for Van Dijk to link up with the Oranje. Within a matter of hours, however, it became clear that the defender was not fit enough to play, and the Netherlands national team then officially confirmed that its skipper would sit out the forthcoming fixtures. No details have yet been given about the nature of the problem or how long he is expected to be sidelined.
Oranje without their leader
Van Dijk has been the cornerstone of the Dutch defence for years and wears the captain's armband, so his absence is a loss both in terms of quality and leadership on the pitch. The coaching staff will now have to reshape the back line for the games ahead.
Liverpool, who rely heavily on the 35-year-old in the Premier League, will also be watching closely for further news, as the severity of the injury remains unclear for now.
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