Virgil van Dijk has expressed his frustration with the English referee who disallowed the Netherlands’ potential winning goal in their contentious 0-0 draw with France on Friday.

Despite the high expectations for this match, it turned out to be a low-quality affair as Ronald Koeman’s Dutch side focused on securing a draw to edge closer to a knockout spot. However, the Netherlands came close to a victory when Xavi Simons struck from the edge of the area midway through the second half.

Liverpool captain Van Dijk witnessed his teammate Xavi Simons score in the 69th minute, prompting jubilant celebrations from the Dutch side. Their joy was cut short when Premier League referee Anthony Taylor’s linesman immediately raised his flag, spotting Netherlands right-back Denzel Dumfries in an offside position near France goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Despite Maignan’s half-hearted attempt to save Simons’ shot, the decision went to a VAR check, overseen by another English official, Stuart Attwell.

After a two-minute wait, the initial decision stood. Van Dijk, visibly exasperated, engaged in constant dialogue with Taylor throughout the process. In a post-match interview with Optus Sport, Van Dijk remarked, “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.”

It remains unclear whether Van Dijk’s criticism was directed at Attwell or Taylor. The decision also had significant implications for Group D, as a Netherlands win would have kept Poland in contention for the round of 16. Poland’s earlier 3-1 loss to Austria in Berlin set up a crucial battle for the top spot in the group.

Netherlands manager 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.”

The Dutch were left fuming after the VAR controversy, while the French team struggled without their star player, Kylian Mbappe. Van Dijk, part of a resolute Dutch defense that successfully frustrated France, reiterated in another interview, “From what I have seen, the goal should have been allowed.”

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.”