Liverpool players have had a mixed experience at Euro 2024 so far this summer.
The Reds have ten first-team players representing their country in Germany. And things haven’t gone well for all of them.
After losing to Dominik Szoboszlai and Hungary on Sunday, Andy Robertson has already returned home. Scotland was once again unable to go beyond the group stage.
Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands have also struggled with the conditions.
Gakpo has performed well, scoring his second goal of the tournament on Tuesday. However, after the Dutch suffered a shocking 3-2 setback to Austria, both he and Van Dijk received scathing criticism from the national media.
Netherlands media reacts to surprising setback.
While it was surprising that the Netherlands lost 3-2 to Austria, it may not have been.
Despite scoring four points in their first two games, the Dutch have been far from convincing. Meanwhile, Austria appears to be running smoothly under Ralf Rangnick’s leadership.
Rangnick’s team sensationally won a group that included both the Netherlands and France. This is no small feat.
The Liverpool pair and their teammates will still advance as the best-placed team in third place. However, knowing Van Dijk and the standards he sets as captain, he will not be pleased.
Predictably, and perhaps understandably, neither were the Dutch media. Only one player received more than a seven out of ten in AD’s match ratings.
Gakpo came close to the top score, finishing with a six point five out of ten after scoring his goal in the second half. However, Liverpool’s No.18 is alleged to have ‘allowed Schmid head in very easily’ to restore Austria’s lead.
Van Dijk appears to have contributed to the Netherlands’ problems. The Reds skipper was given a five-point-five rating after being caught in a ‘tough problem’ of whether to cover or not.
Virgil apparently improved after the break, but was unable to prevent Austria from scoring twice. The 32-year-old is claimed to have been’saddened’ by his team’s failure to gain any ground on the Austrians, particularly in the first half.
What is next for Liverpool’s international players?
Finally, it was maybe a comfort that only Van Dijk, Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch, who has yet to play a minute, made it through.
They could end up against England in the round of 16. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez would face off against three of their Reds teammates.
Given how bad the Three Lions have been up to this point, Van Dijk and co may believe they can turn things around.
Liverpool’s other representatives could be in action on Wednesday, as Diogo Jota’s Portugal and Vitezslav Jaros’ Czech Republic finish their group campaigns. Portugal has already advanced, but only a win will propel the Czechs beyond their groups.
In terms of the Copa America, Darwin Nunez will play again on Friday morning, Luis Diaz on Friday night, and Alisson Becker early Saturday morning.
