Jurgen Klopp has launched a forceful public defence of Virgil van Dijk, dismissing criticism from former Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart as irrelevant and questioning the pundit’s credibility. Speaking as a pundit for German broadcaster MagentaTV after the Netherlands’ 5-1 win over Sweden, the former Liverpool manager took aim at van der Vaart’s analysis, suggesting it carried little weight.
“I don’t know if it’s worth naming Rafael van der Vaart at all,” Klopp said. “But if he ever says something positive about a player, I’m willing to take him seriously again.” He added that van der Vaart appeared to see something in a performance that “has to be expressed in a flowery way and then he goes against it” — but that ultimately the criticism was “not that important.”
Van Dijk played under Klopp at Liverpool for six years, serving as captain during the German’s final season at Anfield. Together they won eight major honours, including the Champions League and the Premier League. Klopp has consistently praised van Dijk’s leadership and quality, even in the face of scrutiny from Dutch media and pundits who have occasionally questioned his form.
The row began after the Netherlands’ opening World Cup match against Japan, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Van Dijk had scored the opening goal with a header from a Ryan Gravenberch cross but was also involved in the defensive lapse that led to Japan’s late equaliser. Speaking on Dutch broadcaster NOS, van der Vaart criticised van Dijk’s mobility, comparing his turning movement to a “Boeing 747 aeroplane”. “I must honestly say that I was a bit shocked by Van Dijk. That turning… It was a bit of a Boeing 747. I hope he will run a little faster during the tournament,” van der Vaart said.
Van der Vaart, who earned 109 caps for the Netherlands and played for Tottenham Hotspur between 2010 and 2012, has been working as a pundit for NOS at the World Cup. His criticism of van Dijk was not the only controversial moment during the broadcaster’s coverage of the Japan match.
Racism allegations over ‘look alike’ remark
While analysing Japan’s equalising goal in the NOS studio, van der Vaart caused further uproar with a comment that has been widely condemned as a racist stereotype. Discussing the defensive error that left a Japanese forward unmarked for the header, van der Vaart said: “He loses him completely. You can see him moving around. If you are the one marking him, then you are responsible for your man. Look, he’s completely unmarked. Van de Ven is nowhere to be seen. He is completely free to make that header.” Referring to the Japanese players, he then added: “They do all look alike of course, perhaps he thought that.”
The remark prompted an awkward silence in the studio and drew immediate backlash from viewers and critics alike, who accused van der Vaart of peddling an offensive racial stereotype. The incident added to the scrutiny of NOS’s punditry line-up at the tournament.
Van der Vaart later released a statement addressing the controversy. He said his intention was “never to insult, hurt, or discriminate against anyone” and that he “sincerely regret[s]” if his words caused offence. He maintained there was no racist or discriminatory intent behind the comment, but the allegation has continued to dog his coverage.
The broader context of the Netherlands’ performance against Japan has also been examined. Van Dijk himself acknowledged that the team found it difficult to break down Japan’s compact 3-4-2-1 formation, and expressed frustration at conceding from a set-piece and a shot he felt could have been better defended. Some analysts described the Dutch attack as “underwhelming” and “toothless” despite dominating possession. The subsequent 5-1 victory over Sweden, in which Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch impressed, has all but secured the Netherlands’ place in the knockout stages.
Klopp’s intervention — and the ongoing fallout from van der Vaart’s remarks — ensures that the focus on the Dutch camp remains as much on the commentary box as on the pitch.
