Virgil van Dijk on Ferguson absence ‘blow’ for Ireland and Gakpo ‘incredible’ contribution to Liverpool

Spectators will miss out on an Evan Ferguson v Virgil van Dijk battle on Sunday

Spectators will miss out on an Evan Ferguson v Virgil van Dijk battle on Sunday Credit: Eddie Lennon (left) and Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images

Macdara Ferris reports from the Aviva Stadium

The hope coming into Sunday’s game for Ireland was for Evan Ferguson to bring his Premier League goalscoring heroics into the game against the Netherlands.

However, Ferguson’s injury means there will be no battle versus Virgil van Dijk in a sold out Aviva Stadium on Sunday night.

The Dutch skipper talked about the missing Irish striker being a "blow" for the Boys in Green while talking up his Liverpool striker teammate Cody Gakpo.

“If you score a hat-trick just before the international break, then he was going to be full of confidence,” said van Dijk about the Brighton player when he spoke to the assembled Irish and Dutch media in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

“He looks like he is a promising striker for Ireland now and into the future. That is a big blow for them but whoever comes and plays tomorrow, we have to be ready to fight.

Stephen Kenny’s side must win this match if they are to keep their group qualification hopes alive for EURO 2024 next summer in Germany.

“For them playing at home with their fans, in the situation they are in, they will do everything in their power to make it difficult for us,” said 32-year-old Dutch skipper.

The Netherlands had a comfortable 3-0 home win over Greece on Thursday with Cody Gakpo getting the second goal.



At Liverpool, the player who cost close to €50m from PSV has yet to find the back of the net this domestic campaign but his club and international teammate isn’t concerned with that.

“We have had four games this season, so I don’t think you can speak much about form,” said van Dijk. “He is so important for both teams. He didn’t play last game for Liverpool as Darwin Nunez started after his fantastic game against Newcastle.”

Van Dijk and Gakp were part of the Netherlands team who made the quarter-final of last year’s World Cup only to lose to eventual winners Argentina on penalties (with van Dijk’s penalty saved by Emi Martinez).

Gakpo has been directly involved in eight goals in his last 13 starts for the Netherlands (7 goals and 1 assist), scoring in seven different matches during this run.

“The work he (Gakpo) delivers in each game is incredible both in offense and defence. He plays in a very difficult position as well. He can play as striker or as a number eight at the start of the season and he still managed to do a good job in my opinion.



“The season will be very long and we will need him. He will be very important and will stay important for us.”

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile