Soccer-Dutch not counting on Van Dijk for European Championship

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Everton - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 20, 2021 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk wearing a protective face mask before the match Pool via REUTERS/Phil Noble

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Netherlands coach Frank de Boer said he was not counting on captain Virgil van Dijk being ready for this year’s European Championship but should he be fit in time it would be a “fantastic bonus” for the team.

Van Dijk had surgery on a serious knee injury in October and earlier this week his Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said he thought June’s tournament would likely come too early for the centre back.