Robbo: Virgil Euros Absence “Obviously Helps Liverpool”

Liverpool FC left-back Andy Robertson is really really looking forward to having his left-sided centre-half Vigil van Dijk back beside him next season. Speaking to The Herald while preparing for the Euros, Robbo spoke on Virgil’s rehabilitation process and Netherlands’ boss Frank de Boer’s previous suggestion that Virgil could feature in the tournament:

At one point it maybe looked likely that Virg would make the Euros. It looked like this would be his first game back and I would have liked nothing more than to play against him.

I have seen the big man go through his rehab, struggling at times of course, and now coming through the other side with his smile getting bigger and bigger again.

He feels as if he is close to fitness and close to playing again and for me being close to him it is obviously tough.

I want my mates to do well and I want my friends to play at the biggest tournaments when they qualify.

To see him not make it is obviously hard, but he has made the best decision for his career. He seems quite content with that decision.

Obviously he is disappointed, but he has made the best decision for his body and that’s why he has ruled himself out.

It’s a huge loss for Holland, but from a selfish point of view if he is fully fit and ready for next season then that obviously helps Liverpool because – for me – he is the best defender in the world and hopefully next season and in other seasons to come he will show that again.

Indeed, it must be a blow to the big Dutchman to miss out on the tournament. Players certainly don’t get that many chances to play for their country at a major competition all the time. It is quite sobering that Van Dijk hasn’t played for the Netherlands at a World Cup or Euros since the Dutch missed out on qualification for both Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018. Here’s hoping that big Virg makes a full recovery and gets his turn at the next crack at it.