Center-back Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool Club and the Netherlands National Team always plays the role of leader of the defense as a matter of course. But when needed, and this happens very often, he also turns into a heavy aerial assassin, bringing in many goals with unpredictable heading techniques.
Many defenses paid the price when Van Dijk appeared in high attack phases. The Polish national team needs to pay special attention to this in the match with the Netherlands tonight (June 16), because in both recent friendly matches with Canada and Iceland, Van Dijk scored with headers. .
A classic high-kick header from Van Dijk
In the context of the Netherlands lacking an effective goalscorer, fixed situations aimed at Van Dijk’s head have become a powerful weapon for the Dutch team in the EURO 2024 finals. Warnings and predictions are completely unnecessary. Many of Van Dijk’s goals have been game-changing.
Looking back at the past season at Liverpool, Van Dijk was a powerful weapon for Liverpool, especially unparalleled in aerial combat. 6 aerial duels against Arsenal, 6 against Burnley, 2 against Brentford and 7 against Luton. All are Van Dijk’s aerial shots in 4 consecutive matches in the Premier League. There were 21 aerial duels in total and he won 100%.
Those special statistics perfectly demonstrate the ability of the “king of first players” in the Premier League. Last season, Van Dijk had 109 aerial duels, higher than second place Callum Calvert-Lewin, who had 99. Van Dijk’s success rate is 84%, far ahead of the person behind him, Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford, 76%).
Saint Duck predicts the Poland – Netherlands match
We all know that Liverpool’s forte under Klopp is to play high pressing, with long passes. They are forced to have strong central defenders in the air. That’s enough to understand why this club owns 4/7 players with the highest winning rate in aerial duels in the Premier League, including Van Dijk, Matip, Gomez and Konate.
Liverpool does not hesitate to position many players in very high positions to deprive their opponents of short-range passes, forcing them to launch long clearances upwards. That allows people with great aerial ability like Van Dijk to develop their forte.
They also often put pressure on the opponent’s goalkeeper by sprinting from the outside to the inside, forcing the opponent to play in the funnel shape they have created: there is no other way than to clear the ball really hard. long way up, where the “kings of aerial combat” like Van Dijk are waiting.
Van Dijk is a powerful weapon for the Dutch national team in the EURO 2024 finals
Van Dijk’s height of 1m93 is an important asset in aerial duels. But his athleticism and intelligent mind are the factors that turn him into a “boss” in aerial combat against taller players like Kristoffer Ajer (1m98), Harry Maguire (1m94) and Dan Burn (2m01).
Van Dijk always tries to approach each match in the most optimal way possible. Able to maintain his position thanks to his ability to stay firmly on both feet, release the ball or move to create impact upon contact, Van Dijk fully exploits his physique before the ball drops. within your control.
In this way, he had the advantage of almost systematically occupying a superior position in an aerial battle. It should be noted that, in aerial battles, Van Dijk rarely makes mistakes, so it is almost impossible for the opponent to win the ball back.
Van Dijk, author of 22 goals in 251 matches in all competitions for Liverpool, scored 3 goals with his head last season. These two recent goals are also a warning to the Netherlands’ opponents in EURO 2024. Van Dijk deserves to be the “king of aerial combat”.
