Qatar 2022: Van Dijk wary of Messi ahead of quarter final clash
Virgil van Dijk has expressed the need for Netherlands to be ready to face Lionel Messi ahead of the quarter final clash against Argentina.
Speaking ahead of the Friday’s encounter, the Liverpool defender said the seven time Ballon D’or winner although could be diminutive but still dangerous.
“The difficult thing about him is when we are attacking, he is chilling somewhere in a corner or something,” Van Dijk said.
“You have to be so very sharp in terms of defensive organisation. They always looked for him to try to make it difficult for us on the counter.
“It is an honour to play against him. It is not me against him, or the Netherlands against him, but the Netherlands against Argentina.
“No one can do it on his own, we will have to come up with a good plan” he said.
The 2018 -19 Champions league semi final was the last time the duo of Van Dijk and Messi met. Argentina defeated the Netherlands in the 1978 final and Louis van Gaal will be hoping for revenge having been in charge side lost to Messi and company on penalties in the semis eight years ago.
Both teams will face off on Friday at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
