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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Kyle Newbould

'Very hurt' - Virgil van Dijk makes heartbreaking admission ahead of Liverpool return

Virgil van Dijk felt as though he let his Netherlands team-mates down after missing the opening penalty in their World Cup shootout defeat to Argentina - but the Liverpool defender hopes a feeling of pride will soon take over.

Louis van Gaal's side were eliminated at the quarter-final stage after losing a feisty affair against Lionel Messi's Argentina. The Dutch were 2-0 down as 80 minutes passed by before Wout Weghorst's brace sent the clash into extra-time while players from both teams clashed in a huge late bust up.

Despite a dramatic late comeback in normal time, the European side failed to carry that momentum forward and as extra-time fizzled out, penalties loomed. Reds star Van dijk stepped up to take the opening spot-kick but saw a relatively tame effort parried away by Emiliano Martinez before another save from the Aston Villa stopper allowed Lautaro Martinez to settle it.

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This World Cup was Van Dijk's first major tournament in the orange of the Netherlands, with the 31-year-old having missed the delayed Euro 2020 due to the ACL injury suffered during a Merseyside derby. And speaking after his side's elimination, the Liverpool man admitted he felt as though he'd let his team0mates down, but added that a feeling of pride will likely kick in soon.

"We lost on penalties and that’s the thing that’s difficult to take," Van Dijk said. "It’s like a lottery. You can practice penalties, and we did a lot, but he [Martinez] made two great saves and we’re out.

"We were confident because we had practised them. But you can’t replicate a full stadium with 80,000 people whistling at you and a different goalie, so it’s a lottery and we lost it. I was ready for it but these things happen — you can miss."

The Dutchman added: "We showed character. I’m very proud of everyone. I’m very hurt and I feel like I let my guys down. We’re going home and I’m very sad about that. Hopefully that feeling will change in the next weeks and the proud feeling will kick in."

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