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Virgil van Dijk earns 100th cap in Netherlands victory over Serbia
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk reached a major milestone on Sunday, earning his 100th international cap during a 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory against Serbia at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.
Van Dijk, the 35-year-old Liverpool defender, becomes only the 11th player in the history of the Netherlands national team to reach 100 appearances. During the match, he played in an unusual right-center defensive role. Following the game, Van Dijk expressed deep emotion and gratitude toward his family and the coaching staff, noting that reaching this milestone was something he ‘never even dared to dream of’ when he was younger.
Despite his age, Van Dijk indicated he intends to continue playing for the national team, potentially through the Euro 2028 tournament. Head coach Xavi Hernández praised the veteran defender, describing him as a ‘true leader’ and an example for the squad. The victory keeps the Netherlands at the top of their Nations League group.
Entities
Netherlands national football team · Philips Stadion · Serbia national football team · Virgil van Dijk · Xavi Hernández
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Virgil van Dijk expressed pride and emotion regarding his milestone achievement. www.vi.nl
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Netherlands defeated Serbia 2-1 in the match held at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven. www.vi.nl
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Van Dijk won over 70 percent of his duels and nearly 79 percent of his aerial duels in international matches leading up to 2026.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Virgil van Dijk earned his 100th international cap for the Netherlands during a match against Serbia. www.vi.nl
- [● 2 SOURCES] Van Dijk is the 11th player in Dutch history to reach 100 international appearances.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Van Dijk decided to continue his international career following discussions with coach Xavi Hernández.