European Championships: Netherlands to miss Virgil van Dijk at Euro

THE HAGUE: Virgil van Dijk will miss this summer's European Championships, as the Netherlands captain will not be fit in time for the start of the tournament.

The Liverpool defender is working hard on his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that he suffered on October 17 after a tackle from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Euro 2020, which starts for the Netherlands on June 13 against Ukraine in Amsterdam, comes too early for him.

"It would be my first final tournament for 'Oranje', as captain too," Van Dijk said in a video message to fans. "I am very disappointed that I cannot go along, but this is the right decision for me."

Although the absence of Van Dijk is not unexpected, it still is a heavy blow for head coach Frank de Boer and the Dutch team. Agencies

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