Virgil van Dijk brutally slammed by Dutch pundit - before Roy Keane disagrees

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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesVirgil Van DijkVirgil van Dijk was named the Player of the Match as the Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan, but Rafael van der Vaart was still not impressed by the Liverpool captainVirgil van Dijk before the Netherlands drew with Japan at the World Cup.(Image: Stefan Koops/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images)The Dutch media and pundits are notoriously hard to impress, but former midfielder Rafael van der Vaart was particularly harsh on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk yesterday.The Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan in their opening fixture at the tournament, with Van Dijk scoring the opening goal. That was only the second time that one Liverpool player has teed up another to score at the World Cup — and the first time since 1966 — with Van Dijk heading home Ryan Gravenberch's cross.But despite Van Dijk doing well and collecting the Player of the Match award, Van der Vaart couldn't wait to get stuck into his performance at the half-time break."I have to be honest: I was quite shocked by Van Dijk," the former Netherlands, Real Madrid and Tottenham man said in the NOS studio at the half-time break."With him, I thought: that doesn’t look good.

I hope he starts turning a bit faster during the tournament."Shortly after that criticism, Van Dijk scored. While the Netherlands were unable to hang on for the victory, they should comfortably qualify for the knockout phase.Koki Ogawa outjumped Van Dijk to score the equalizer(Image: Getty)"It was obviously a brilliant delivery from Gravenberch, and we know how good they are from set-pieces," Roy Keane said on ITV Sport's coverage of the game."Van Dijk is obviously on a good run of form in terms of scoring goals.

Some of the deliveries tonight from set-pieces weren’t great but when it comes back to Gravenberch..."We saw Japan dropping deeper and deeper and once it goes in it’s an absolutely fantastic header from Van Dijk."He’s such a goal threat, brilliant finish. That was difficult," Van Dijk said.