Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk holds a quietly optimistic outlook for his team’s chances at UEFA Euro 2024. The tournament kicks off in Germany next month, with the Oranje placed in a challenging group alongside Poland, France, and Austria.
Looking ahead to their quest for a first European title in nearly 40 years, Van Dijk tempered expectations while expressing hope. “We have to be realistic. I’ll give my best, and I’m excited. Everything is possible.” he said on SBS6 via AFC AJAX.
Van Dijk comes into the Euros following a strong season with Liverpool. The team secured the EFL Cup, made it to the quarterfinals of both the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League, and finished third in the Premier League.
As the focus shifts to the Euros, the Netherlands will play two friendlies against Canada on June 6 and Iceland on June 10 before their opening match against Poland on June 16.
“We will do everything in our power to get through the group stages, because this will be very difficult. Austria is a tough team, France is always difficult, but we can compete with everyone,” he added.
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The Netherlands clinched their only European Championship in 1988, defeating the Soviet Union 2-0. Since then, their closest brush with glory was the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
Reflecting on Van Dijk’s previous Euro campaign, the Netherlands featured at Euro 2020, which was held a year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oranje topped their group, which included Austria, Ukraine, and North Macedonia. They kicked off their campaign wit h a 3-1 win over Ukraine, followed by a 2-0 victory against Austria, and a 3-0 triumph over North Macedonia, all played in Amsterdam.
However, their journey ended in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 defeat to the Czech Republic in Budapest. A red card for Matthijs de Ligt in the 52nd minute was a turning point, leading to goals from Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick that sealed the Oranje’s exit from the tournament.
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