Virgil van Dijk faces fierce criticism and calls for retirement after the Netherlands exited the 2026 World Cup. Some fans and media outlets label the Liverpool defender a disappointment who failed the national team. Reports from Football365 brand it as a major embarrassment. Manager Ronald Koeman confirmed that van Dijk withdrew from a penalty kick due to discomfort during the tournament. Former Dutch players expect van Dijk will quit his international career. They also expect Koeman to resign from his post as manager. The exit signals a difficult end for the squad that carried high hopes. This situation has drawn strong scrutiny toward the team leader on social media and in sports news.