Vigil van Dijk has said that he feels sorry for former team-mate Sadio Mane and his World Cup ambition because he felt the same heartbreak when he missed Euro 2020.
Mane will miss Senegal’s opening World Cup encounter against van Dijk’s Holland on Monday due to a leg injury, according to the country’s football federation.
Van Dijk has spoken to his old Liverpool teammate, and he understands how difficult it is to miss a major tournament due to injury. The defensive colossus, who missed Euro 2020 because to a major knee injury, said, as quoted by The Mirror, “Of course I’ve spoken to him.”
“I was feeling sad for him, first and foremost. I’m not happy in this case and I’ve been in that situation where I missed the Euros. We as players, we work so hard to get to this stage and he has been such an important figure in that group, for their country. “I know for a fact that he will put a brave face on it, but it’s tough and I feel sorry for him. I don’t think he will play, but they still have a fantastic team. We will prepare well for them and the whole tournament is going to be tough.”
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Van Dijk is thrilled to be playing in his first World Cup at the age of 31, and he feels his Euro 2020 heartbreak makes it even more unforgettable. The Holland captain will earn his 50th cap against Senegal in his first major tournament.
Van Dijk believes Louis van Gaal’s side, who reached the semi-finals in 2014 under the former Manchester United manager, have the excellent mix to succeed in Qatar.
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