Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has criticised the Dutch media following the national team's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. In a post-match interview, Van Dijk said that "a lot of nonsense" had been spread about the team during the tournament.
The Netherlands were knocked out of the World Cup, though the exact opponent and scoreline could not be independently verified at the time of publication. Van Dijk, who plays his club football for Liverpool, expressed frustration with the coverage the squad received throughout the competition.
His remarks echo a long-standing tension between the Dutch national team and sections of the media, particularly during major tournaments when scrutiny intensifies. Van Dijk did not specify which reports he was referring to.
The defender is one of the most experienced figures in the Dutch squad and has previously spoken about the pressure placed on players by public and media expectations. The Netherlands' exit marks another disappointing end to a major tournament campaign.
