Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk out of Euros for Netherlands

Dubai: Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says he will not play for the Netherlands at next month’s European Championship.

The centre-back has been out since October with a knee injury sustraind in a clash with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Van Dijk says in an interview with Liverpool’s website: “I feel physically it is the right decision that I’ve decided not to go to the Euros and to go into my last phase of rehab during the offseason.”

The Netherlands captain, 29, said he was “gutted” to be missing the delayed tournament, which starts next month, but was at peace with his decision.

“The surgeon is very happy with everything that is going on and, as I said, the good thing is I've not really had a setback so far and hopefully that will not happen,” he added.