Netherlands are lacking smooth defensive partnership to thwart France tonight – with or without the French superstar
There’s a clip you should seek out that is a textbook example of perfect defending, an illustration of why peak Virgil van Dijk will be remembered as one of the greats in his position.
It’s a Nations League game between France and Netherlands in 2018. A Paul Pogba pass took five Dutch players in their protective midfield screen out of the game completely. It picked out a run from Kylian Mbappe, fresh from his World Cup success months earlier, who was able to sprint into the Dutch half with just one defender to beat, Van Dijk.