Virgil van Dijk was criticized by Rafael van der Vaart for his mobility in the Netherlands' World Cup opener.
The former Tottenham star said Van Dijk's turning ability was like a "Boeing 747 turning".
## What happened?
Van der Vaart made the comments after the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan on June 2026.
Van Dijk's performance was scrutinized by the former Netherlands international.
## Why it matters for Virgil van Dijk
Jurgen Klopp defended his former Liverpool skipper against Van der Vaart's criticism.
Klopp refrained from attacking Van der Vaart directly.
The Liverpool manager has a history of defending his players against criticism.
## What comes next?
Van Dijk will look to improve his performance in the Netherlands' next World Cup match.
The Netherlands will face a tough test against a strong opponent.
Van Dijk's mobility will be under scrutiny again.
The 31-year-old defender has been a key player for the Netherlands.
He has played a crucial role in the team's success.
Van der Vaart's comments sparked a reaction from Klopp.
The former Netherlands international has been working as a pundit for NOS.
He has been critical of Van Dijk's performance in the past.
But Klopp has always defended his player.
The Liverpool manager has a strong relationship with Van Dijk.
He has praised Van Dijk's ability and leadership on the pitch.
Van Dijk has been one of the best defenders in the world.
He has won numerous titles with Liverpool.
The Netherlands will rely on Van Dijk to help them progress in the World Cup.
He will be under pressure to perform well.
But Van Dijk has the experience and ability to handle the pressure.
He has played in big games before.
Van Dijk will look to prove Van der Vaart wrong.
He will want to show that he is still one of the best defenders in the world.
The World Cup is a big stage for Van Dijk to showcase his skills.
He will be eager to help the Netherlands succeed.