Captain Van Dijk urges Dutch to look forward not back at Euros

The Netherlands' Virgil Van Dijk in action during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D soccer match between The Netherlands and Austria at Olympiastadion Berlin. Soeren Stache/dpa

The Netherlands are trying to regroup for their Euro 2024 last-16 game with Romania on Tuesday after only finishing third in their group and suffering a 3-2 loss to flying Austria.

Coach Ronald Koeman heavily criticized his team, who have not been averse to infighting down the years at major tournaments.

The 24-team format allowing some third-placed sides to progress has been compounded by Romania also being surprise winners of their group, with the Dutch favourites on paper for the game in Munich.

But captain Virgil van Dijk is taking nothing for granted.

"Our focus is solely on Romania," Van Dijk told reporters on Friday at their training base in Wolfsburg. "The way we played in the last game, we certainly can't underestimate anyone."

But the fact the 1988 European champions are in the supposed easier half of the tournament should not play a role in their thinking, he added.

"After our last game, we shouldn't be talking about a supposedly easier tournament draw. We have to concentrate fully on Romania," added the 32-year-old.

"We've spoken a lot, we've also had some tough words. That was also necessary. Now we have to show it on the pitch. We still have the feeling that we can make this tournament a very special one."

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