Virgil van Dijk

[Fosterbloke]

The goal Lacazette scored was fantastic

It was very Torres like.

[Buzzo]

TBF no one read more than the first line.

I pretty much depend on it

[red g]

Just scored a last minute equaliser to send the Dutch through to the last 4.

[BigChief]

Amazing finish to the game. And by VvD.

[Norbs]

Our players have loved this tourno

[Fosterbloke]

International goals from four of our players -

Wijnaldum
VVD
Salah
TAA

[Buzzo]

Big Virgil. What a guy.

[ame]https://twitter.com/OnsOranje/status/1064789651909689344[/ame]

Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan was consoled by Virgil van Dijk after the Netherlands 2-2 draw with Germany on Monday.

It is understood the 38-year-old official had discovered his mother had died in the build-up to the match.

And the Liverpool defender showed his human side, embracing the emotional Hategan at the final whistle.

"That man broke down, stood with tears in his eyes because he had just lost his mother," Van Dijk said.

"I wished him strength and said he had refereed well. It's a small thing, but I hope it helped him."

The official recently took charge of Barcelona's Champions League victory over Inter Milan.

Hategan also refereed the second leg of Manchester United's Europa League semi-final win over Celta Vigo in 2017, with Jose Mourinho's side going on to lift the trophy.

Van Dijk's intervention came just minutes after his injury-time equaliser ensured the Dutch reached the semi-finals of the Nations League.

Goals from Timo Werner and Leroy Sane had put Germany ahead.

But the Dutch implemented a tactical switch - that manager Ronald Koeman was originally unaware of - with Quincy Promes' 85th-minute goal initiating their revival.

The Dutch boss passed on handwritten directions, penned by his back-up team, to full-back Kenny Tete which prompted Van Dijk to press forward.

"I got a note from [my assistants] Dwight Lodeweges and Kees van Wonderen," Koeman said.

"When we were 2-0 down they asked me if we should change things around and I said 'yes'.

"Next thing I knew I had the note. So I gave it to Kenny. And in the end it's fantastic that the equaliser came from the guy who was told on the note to push up front."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46273301

[Shaggy]

We really do have a squad full of lovely fellas.

[Buzzo]

We really do have a squad full of lovely fellas.

I agree, it may or may not win us trophies, but it certainly makes the team very easy to support, win/lose or draw. It must be helping with bringing in new supporters and converting the next generation of global supporters to reds.

[Norbs]

Big Virgil. What a guy.

https://twitter.com/OnsOranje/status/1064789651909689344

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46273301

Koeman the tactical genius

'Lump it to the big fella, aashk him to shcore'

[Buzzo]

Koeman the tactical genius

'Lump it to the big fella, teĺ him to shcore'

Even with those basic tactics it seems Koeman didnt have a clue what was going on

"I got a note from [my assistants] Dwight Lodeweges and Kees van Wonderen," Koeman said.

"When we were 2-0 down they asked me if we should change things around and I said 'yes'.

"Next thing I knew I had the note. So I gave it to Kenny. And in the end it's fantastic that the equaliser came from the guy who was told on the note to push up front."

[BobTheCharmer]

I wish klopp would do similar at times when we are desperate for a goal. Pretty or not, as fellani proves, sticking a big man up front makes it awkward for defenders.

[lickedlollipop]

Big Virgil

[Tatterdemalion]

I don't know whether it's more embarrassing to have been given the tactical note to pass on or to feel that's normal to talk about it in public.

[Chris]

The GOAT centre back. Also nice that if anyone does somehow get through they have Alisson waiting.