Ex-Blue picks Red for Oranje
FORMER Everton manager Ronald Koeman’s first act as Holland manager has been to appoint Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk as his captain.
The pair worked together at Southampton and Koeman believes the £75million defender is the foundation on which to rebuild the country’s international reputation, after the misery of missing out on this summer’s World Cup finals compounded their earlier failure to qualify for Euro 2016.
“To be named captain is very special, it means a lot for me,” said Van Dijk, below. “It’s going to be a special game, my first game as captain of my country. It’s definitely going to be something special and being against England is a little bit more special even.
“Everyone knows Koeman gave me my chance at Southampton and I’m very grateful for what he has done for me so far.”
The pair sat side by side at the Amsterdam Arena on the eve of England’s visit, with Koeman making it clear that, unlike his counterpart Gareth Southgate, he saw the armband as an important, permanent honour.
“Virgil is the first-choice captain,” he said. “He is a natural leader – a player that on and off the pitch is a big personality. I know him from Southampton so I have a good idea what he is like.”
Koeman himself has been in position for only a month but insisted that, after being sacked by Everton in October, the chance to lead his nation was more than adequate compensation.
“I’m really happy to be national coach of Holland,” he said. “I admire and respect the Premier League. I had a great time and everyone knows how that time finished at Everton.
“Looking back it was a great time, to be part of the Premier League, but it’s a different project now with the national team.” IT IS the closest-kept secret of Gareth Southgate’s reign but Jordan Henderson appears to have emerged as the man to captain England in Russia this summer.
The final international gathering before the serious preparation of the build-up to the tournament has become surrounded in political turmoil off the pitch and injury problems on it.
That is why Southgate needs the quiet strength of the Liverpool skipper as his link man to his players as they embark on what is beginning to look an increasingly imposing World Cup challenge.
Frustratingly, Jack Wilshere’s long-awaited return to the international fold was put on hold by injury yet again.
The English bulldog was left whimpering at the steps of the plane to Amsterdam after suffering a problem with his knee, although he could yet be released to scamper around Wembley when the Italians visit for the second game of the international double-header on Tuesday.
With Harry Kane already out with ankle ligament damage and Adam Lallana also ruled out for the Holland game, Southgate needs something he can rely on.
He will continue to refuse to anoint his World Cup captain until he absolutely has to. Nevertheless, he gave his strongest indication yet that he sees Henderson, who will wear the armband for the fifth time tonight, as his chosen leader.
“You would want a captain to have the attributes Jordan has, the selflessness, the thinking of the team ahead of yourself, the ability to connect people within the group, and to have outstanding professionalism to have an influence on the players within the squad,” he said. “That wouldn’t change in any captain I’ve selected.”
In fairness, the idea of the armband being rotated has been something of a myth since Wayne Rooney’s international retirement.
It was only in the last competitive double-header of 2017 that Henderson has not worn the armband when he has been available, with Spurs striker Kane taking it on.
Southgate put further doubt on a fit-again Kane reprising the role for the tournament when he seemed to come out against putting extra pressure on a player who is already a natural talisman. “The captain has additional responsibilities, of course, but in the stage we’ve been in the team it has been important to start to grow other people and make sure others are prepared,” he said. “Too much fell on Wayne Rooney’s shoulders.”
Kane, Southgate feels, does not need an armband to lead by example. And Henderson’s power within the group would balance an already strong Tottenham contingent. It just makes sense – an