Virgil van Dijk faces fierce criticism and demands for retirement after the Netherlands exited the 2026 World Cup. Many fans and media outlets call the Liverpool defender a disappointment who betrayed the national team. Reports from Football365 describe it as a major embarrassment. Manager Ronald Koeman stated that van Dijk withdrew from a penalty kick due to discomfort during the tournament. Former Dutch players now predict van Dijk will end his international career. They also expect Koeman to resign from his post as manager. The exit marks a difficult end for the squad that carried high hopes. This situation has drawn intense scrutiny toward the team leader on social media and in sports news.