Virgil van Dijk reflects on Holland’s penalty shootout defeat to Argentina
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‘Everything had gone in, until tonight’: Virgil van Dijk says the Netherlands took penalties ‘a lot’, after the shootout loss to Argentina… and insists their missed penalty ‘could have been more in the corner’
After the Netherlands’ loss in a penalty shootout against Argentina, defender Virgil van Dijk claimed that ‘everything had gone in’ for the Dutch players in penalty shootout.
Louis van Gaal’s side crashed out in the World Cup quarterfinals after a heroic comeback saw the game end 2-2 before Argentina advanced in a penalty shootout.
Liverpool’s Van Dijk made the first move for the Netherlands and saw his effort saved by Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez and, on reflection, admits the shot “could have been more in the corner”.
Virgil van Dijk winces after seeing his penalty saved during the quarterfinal shootout
Argentine Emiliano Martínez dove to his right to make the crucial save against van Dijk.
Talking to the Dutch medium US, captain van Dijk said: ‘We trained a lot for that. Everything had entered. Until tonight. Then you will be very disappointed. That hurts a lot.
When asked about his penalty miss, the defender said: ‘That has to do with all sorts of things. It was difficult. He could have been a bit more in the corner.
Unfortunately, those things happen in football. It’s time to practice again and I’ll do it,” Van Dijk said.
The Dutch centre-back took the first penalty of the shootout, which was saved by Martínez, before Argentina’s Lionel Messi stepped up to the plate and took his second penalty of the night.
Immediately after van Dijk, Steven Berghuis stepped up to the plate and, despite going in the opposite corner, also saw Martinez stop his effort.
The Liverpool defender took the first penalty of the shootout that he ultimately lost
Steven Berghuis sits on his knees after watching his effort also get saved by Martinez
Van Gaal’s side did well to win a penalty shootout in the first place, after miraculously rallying the game to 2-2 with two late goals.
Substitute Wout Weghorst bagged a brace after coming on in the 78th minute of the game. The first, a header that left Martinez no chance.
The second was a well-worked free-kick routine, which came in the final moments of regulation time, which took the game to extra time.
There was chaos as tensions boiled over and both sets of teams received several yellow cards for a fight late in the game.
Argentina only missed one effort, through Enzo Fernández, who saw them advance to the semifinals where they will place Croatia next Tuesday.
Argentina’s players celebrate after booking their place in the World Cup semi-finals