22 June 2024 , 09:55
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Virgil van Dijk has slammed the 'English referee' who disallowed the Netherlands' potential winning goal in Friday's controversial 0-0 draw with France.
Liverpool captain van Dijk saw team-mate Xavi Simons hit the back of the bet in the 69th minute, with the Dutch side wheeling away in celebration. Their joy was short-lived, however, as one of Premier League referee Anthony Taylor's linesmen immediately raised his flag.
He'd spotted Netherlands right-back Denzel Dumfries standing in an offside position near France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who only made a half-hearted attempt to save Simons' shot. The decision promptly went to a VAR check, where fellow English official Stuart Attwell was on duty.
After a two-minute wait, it was confirmed that the original decision would stand. Van Dijk, 32, was in constant dialogue with Taylor throughout the process and looked exasperated.
After it ended goalless in Leipzig to put each side on four points after two games, the Dutch defender claimed in a post-match interview with Optus Sport: "We scored a goal that is a fair goal. [Maignan] had no chance to get into that corner, but the English referee decided to disallow it."
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It's unclear whether Van Dijk was referring to Attwell or Taylor. The decision also had implications elsewhere in Group D, as only a Netherlands win would've kept Poland in with a mathematical chance of reaching the round of 16. Poland had lost 3-1 to Austria in Berlin earlier on Friday, setting up a fight for top spot in the group come Tuesday.
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The Netherlands were furious with Anthony Taylor and his colleagues (Geert van Erven/Soccrates/Getty Images)Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman shared Van Dijk's frustration, saying: "If it's offside, then you don't need to spend five minutes touching your ear. I don't understand this. If you have this much doubt, you give a goal!
"Dumfries did not hinder the goalkeeper. It wasn't because of Dumfries that Maignan didn't go for the ball, Maignan did not react because he simply couldn't get to the ball anyway. He would have never reached that ball. It's a legal goal. Once again, he's not disturbing the goalkeeper."
Van Dijk, who was part of a resolute Dutch defence which frustrated a Kylian Mbappe-less France, also said in another interview: "From what I have seen, the goal should have been allowed."