Netherlands Overview

Jurgen Klopp has launched a fierce defence of Virgil van Dijk after the Netherlands captain was subjected to a bizarre critique from Rafael van der Vaart. The former Liverpool manager wasted no time in dismissing the pundit's assessment following the Oranje's opening Group Stage draw against Japan.

Netherlands belatedly announced themselves as serious World Cup contenders by hammering Sweden 5-1 in Houston on Saturday evening. The Dutch had performed only in patches in their opening-round draw with Japan and coach Ronald Koeman was criticised for his perceived conservatism. However, his team produced a devastating attack display to dismantle a Sweden side that had kicked off their campaign with a 5-1 win of their own, over Tunisia.

Denzel Dumfries has called for a significant shift in the Netherlands' team culture, urging his international team-mates to adopt a more confrontational approach. The wing-back believes the squad must learn from the high-pressure environment of the Inter dressing room to ensure success on the world stage.

The 2026 World Cup is underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long road ahead as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here are GOAL's predicted candidates for the prize as we keep track of the tournament's most prolific stars