Virgil van Dijk praises Frenkie de Jong's pain-struck display vs Sweden

Virgil van Dijk has praised Frenkie de Jong for playing through pain in the Netherlands' 2-0 victory over Sweden. The Oranje captain also commended Brian Brobbey and Crysencio Summerville for their contributions. Van Dijk described the match as tough, noting the Netherlands struggled after Sweden changed their system during the first hydration break. "We began excellently," he told SBS 6. "We scored good goals. After the break, they changed the system and we had a difficult time." The Oranje captain highlighted Sweden’s attacking threat, saying: "They have two strikers who are super dangerous. If you’re not sharp, they can punish you." He added that the Dutch defense handled the threat well despite the challenge. Brobbey’s early impact did not go unnoticed. Van Dijk called him "very important at the start," praising his ball retention and character. Summerville also earned praise for his performances over the past two seasons.

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De Jong, who played despite injury, revealed after the match that he was in significant pain. "He did everything to be here," Van Dijk said. "It wasn’t easy for him. People said all sorts of things about him. He did brilliantly, with pain." The Netherlands now face Tunisia in their next match, with Van Dijk warning that the opponents will fight to avoid early elimination. "Every match is a tough one. That’s just how it is," he added.

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De Jong’s resilience under pressure was a key theme in the post-match comments, with Van Dijk emphasizing the midfielder’s determination to represent his country despite adversity. The victory keeps the Netherlands in contention as they progress through the tournament, with their next challenge awaiting against Tunisia.