Virgil van Dijk — Netherlands World Cup 2026 Squad

Virgil van Dijk is still the defender who sets the tone for the Netherlands. He is 34, he plays for Liverpool, and he has 106 caps with 12 goals. The numbers tell only part of it. Van Dijk gives the Dutch back line height, calm, and the kind of long passing that can break two lines without much fuss. He is also a serious set-piece threat, which matters in tournament football where one header can swing a whole knockout tie. The Netherlands have enough talent further forward. Their deeper run usually depends on whether the back line looks as steady as Van Dijk makes it look when he is fully in command.