'Stupid': Liverpool star gets slated by nation's media following 'unpleasant' display for his country last night

Today at 01:15 AM

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had a night to forget on Friday as he was sent off for the Netherlands in their Nations League meeting with Hungary.

The Reds skipper received his marching orders in the 79th minute for a second yellow card, though it didn’t stop the Dutch from salvaging a 1-1 draw in Budapest.

Roland Sallai opened the scoring for Hungary in the 20th minute, volleying past Oranje goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen following a cross from Zsolt Nagy.

The Netherlands, who continued to trail to Salai’s goal by the latter stages, were then left with a mountain to climb after Van Dijk received two yellows in the space of 10 minutes.

Despite this major setback, the Oranje managed to equalise in the 83rd minute as Denzel Dumfries, who took the Liverpool man’s armband, headed home from a superb Cody Gakpo delivery.

The Dutch media was not impressed with their nation’s display in Hungary and they certainly were not happy with Van Dijk’s sending off.

Here is how several media outlets in the Netherlands rated the Liverpool man’s display on the night.

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk made a ‘bad impression’ for the Netherlands

Sportnieuws gave Van Dijk a 4.5 out of 10 and called his sending-off ‘stupid’.

They wrote: ‘Virgil van Dijk gets the lowest score of the selection, and that has to do with his second yellow card.

‘The situation took place on the side of the field in a fairly harmless position. In the last minutes of the match, it is not possible for you as a captain to show your frustration by making a foul.

‘With that, he made a bad impression, while he further shared in the general malaise of the Oranje as a pace setter.’

Meanwhile, AD went with a 5 out of 10 and wrote: ‘No less than 105 ball contacts before the break.

‘But it was all because Hungary retreated and kept the spaces small. After the break, two yellow cards in quick succession and therefore red.

‘The captain will not be there in Germany, of course a suspension will follow. The first yellow card was for protesting, the second for a foul. An unpleasant evening for the Liverpool player.’

Meanwhile, VI said: ‘Two Dutch internationals were given a failing grade. Van Dijk and striker Joshua Zirkzee, who was chosen over Brian Brobbey, were given a 5.’

READ MORE:Liverpool's Conor Bradley reacts after being made Northern Ireland captain v Belarus

What next for Van Dijk?

Van Dijk is now suspended for Monday night’s Nations League meeting with Germany in Munich.

He told reporters he plans to stay with the Netherlands camp rather than returning to Liverpool ahead of schedule.

Liverpool are next in action on Sunday 20 October when they host Chelsea in the Premier League.