Virgil van Dijk will remain available to the Netherlands after being persuaded to continue his international career by the Catalan coach now preparing for a first match in charge.
The new era begins on Thursday with a demanding assignment against Germany, led by Jürgen Klopp. It places Van Dijk, one of the defining senior figures in the Dutch squad, at the centre of the coach’s early plans rather than at the end of his international journey.
The decision gives the Netherlands continuity in defence as the Catalan manager makes his debut on the touchline. Across the border, Klopp’s Germany provide an immediate measure of where the Dutch side stands under its new leadership.
