Virgil van Dijk goes against his own advice in humbling loss to Man Utd reject

Liverpool and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk went against his own advice during Tuesday's humbling defeat at Euro 2024 to Manchester United reject Ralf Rangnick's Austria.

Before smashing their rivals the Red Devils 4-0 with interim boss Rangnick in charge, Van Dijk preached hard work and unity as the Reds ran riot at Anfield in the April 19, 2022, game. "We work hard for this. With only working hard you have no guarantee that you get trophies," the defender said ahead of the game.

"But we are in a good way, we have the quality throughout the whole squad, we're in a very good situation, the club, in general, has been a very good place to be, with the club above and the fans, but also the squad - everyone is one and looking in the right direction and that is key to success as well."

However, the Dutch showed the complete opposite in Germany on Tuesday as they had to settle for a third-place finish behind France and Austria in Group D at Euro 2024. The Dutch were beaten 3-2 by Rangnick's fast-paced, attacking Austria in Berlin.

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The Austrians took the lead three times in the back-and-forth affair, with the floodgates opening in the sixth minute through a Donyell Malen own goal. Cody Gakpo equalized straight after the second-half restart but Austria responded just over ten minutes later through Romano Schmid.

Memphis Depay then pulled the Dutch level again with 15 minutes to go but ex-United midfielder Marcel Sabitzer sealed the win for the Euro 2024 Dark Horses, with Van Dijk part of a majorly disjointed defensive unit, playing his rival onside. "There is a great bond between the Austrian team and the manager," ex-Aston Villa, West Ham, and Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger told the BBC. "Ralf Rangnick was offered the Bayern Munich job and he turned it down.”

Hitzlesperger added: “The Dutch in the first half were poor and in the second half they could have come back and won it, but defensively they were so badly organized and lethargic - I am not surprised Austria have won the game.”

Former Liverpool and England defender Stephen Warnock was also massively impressed with Austria. He said: "Quite outstanding, loved every minute of it. Ebbed and flowed. Austria fully deserved the points, they deserved to get the result because of the work they have put into that game. Outstanding from Austria.”

Van Dijk offered very little explanation for Holland's defeat in the German capital as well, enraging Rafael van der Vaart. "I don't have an explanation for this performance," the Netherlands' captain said.

Van Der Vaart responded: "We played the way Virgil van Dijk just talked! We just had to watch a disgraceful performance! I want the captain from our country to show some passion!"

Liverpool.com says: The Dutch haven't looked good collectively and it's looking likely they'll face England in the Round of 16. Van Dijk will want to get one over on Premier League rivals and he'll be back to his best. As captain, it'll be his job to rally the troops.