Virgil van Dijk has dismissed criticism from legendary Dutch forward Marco van Basten following the Netherlands' 1-1 draw with Ecuador at the World Cup on Friday afternoon.
Louis van Gaal's side took the lead against their opponents in Group A through PSV forward Cody Gakpo, but were pegged back four minutes after half-time as Enner Valencia added to his goalscoring tally in Qatar.
Ecuador managed to breach the Dutch defence when Pervis Estupinan's fierce strike from outside the area was flicked on by Valencia inside the area and past goalkeeper Andries Noppert.
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Of the view that Van Dijk was at fault for this moment in the match, Van Basten criticised the Liverpool defender after the full-time whistle. "Van Dijk is just waiting and watching him shoot," he told NOS . "What is he looking at? He needs to be on top of him! He just lets him shoot!"
Asked to provide his reaction to such comments being made, Van Dijk played down the negative words of the former Ajax striker in his post-match interview. "I don't think he is ever positive, so what am I supposed to do with it?
"It's easy to talk from the studio. Me failing as a captain? What do you want me to do with that info? I am always up front. I lead the team the best way possible," he added.
Van Basten certainly appears to not be an admirer of the Netherlands' current captain at international level, having launched a similar attack on the centre-back after a UEFA Nations League triumph over Belgium back in September.
"Van Dijk is actually the best man, but does the least in terms of initiative," the Euro 1988 winner told Ziggo Sport. "It is actually very strange that such a very good player does so little for the Dutch national team in the build-up."
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