Dutch National Team “Not Counting” on Virgil van Dijk Being Ready for Euros

Liverpool star centre half Virgil van Dijk remains on track to return from an ACL injury before the end of the 2020-21 season, but according to Netherlands manager Frank de Boer that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be ready to play for his national team at the Euros this summer.

If he stays on track, doesn’t suffer setbacks, gets a few games in for his club before the season ends, and feels good about himself then there’s no doubt he’ll play at the Euros. None of that, though, is certain—and De Boer insists he won’t be pushed to play before he’s ready.

“I can understand Liverpool don’t want to put any pressure on Virgil at all and neither do we,” De Boer said. “His recovery is going according to plan. We know he has eight weeks left, but I don’t know if that’s enough for him to be ready for the Euros.

“I have spoken to him. He’s back on the field and he’ll soon be returning to training, but there can be all kinds of setbacks. A week or two of setbacks could mean he cannot play any games this season, so anything he can contribute to Liverpool and possibly us would be a bonus.”

Liverpool haven’t previously put a timeline on his recover, but if he’s nearing a return to team training and could play in eight weeks that lines up with the final two weeks of the Premier League season for the Reds and games against Burnley and Crystal Palace.

In European play, it’s a timeline that sets his potential return after the Champions League semi-finals but before the final in Istanbul, while after the current international break the Netherlands aren’t currently scheduled to play again until the Euros kick off.

“Ultimately, he must have a good feeling himself,” De Boer added. “I’m glad he’s on the right track. I’m not counting on it right now, but if it did happen it would be fantastic. I’m not putting any pressure on him at all—the choice lies mainly with him.”