Klopp Fires Back at Van der Vaart Over Virgil van Dijk ‘Boeing 747’ Comment at 2026 World Cup

Jurgen Klopp has come to the defence of Virgil van Dijk following sharp criticism from former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart, who used the analogy of a “Boeing 747” turning to describe the centre-back’s perceived lack of agility during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The dispute traces back to the Netherlands’ opening group stage match, a 2-2 draw with Japan, in which Van Dijk captained the Dutch side. Speaking in his capacity as a pundit for Dutch broadcaster NOS, Van der Vaart did not hold back in his assessment of the 34-year-old defender’s performance.

“I have to be honest: I was quite shocked by Van Dijk,” Van der Vaart said. “With him, I thought, that doesn’t look good. Especially while turning. It is proving very difficult. A bit like a Boeing 747 turning. I hope he starts turning a bit faster during the tournament.”

Van Dijk’s response came on the pitch. The Netherlands followed up their draw against Japan with a commanding 5-1 win over Sweden in their next group fixture, with the skipper part of a defensive unit that helped the side assert clear dominance.

Klopp, who spoke to MagentaTV ahead of the Netherlands’ match against Sweden, was pointed in his dismissal of Van der Vaart’s remarks. The German, who managed Van Dijk at Liverpool from 2018 to 2024 — a period that included the club’s Premier League title triumph and Champions League success — questioned whether the pundit’s commentary deserved serious engagement at all.

“I’m not entirely sure if it’s worth mentioning Rafael van der Vaart,” Klopp said. “But if he ever says something positive about any player at some point, then I’ll be happy to take him seriously again.”

Klopp went further, suggesting Van der Vaart’s choice of language was designed more for theatrical effect than substantive analysis. “You get the feeling he sees something, and then it has to be formulated in a flowery way, and then he’s really against it. But that way it’s really not important,” Klopp added, reiterating his view that Van Dijk continues to operate at the highest level.

Van der Vaart, who represented the Netherlands 109 times and had a notable spell at Real Madrid, has built a reputation as a forthright pundit since retiring from professional football. His comments on Van Dijk drew widespread attention in the Netherlands and beyond, particularly given Van Dijk’s standing as one of European football’s most decorated defenders over the past decade.

Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 in a deal reported at the time to be worth around £75 million. Under Klopp, he was integral to the club’s defensive transformation, helping them concede just 33 goals across the 2018-19 Premier League season — a record at the time for a 38-game campaign. He was also runner-up for the 2019 Ballon d’Or.

With the Netherlands still progressing through the 2026 World Cup group stage, Van Dijk’s performances will remain under scrutiny. How the Dutch captain responds across the remainder of the tournament is likely to determine whether Van der Vaart’s critique is remembered as prescient or premature.