Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has shown his support to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk after the pair made the World Cup quarter final with Holland.
The Netherlands beat USA 3-1 on Saturday to become the first team into the hat for the last eight. Clearly delighted with the win, van Dijk took to Instagram after the game to share his feelings.
“Progress. Next up, quarter finals,” wrote the Liverpool centre-back. Having partnered Virgil at the back for all four games so far, Ake responded with a love heart emoji alongside a prayer hands emoji.
The two are going to have to be at their best to stop Lionel Messi in next Friday’s clash with Argentina.
Van Dijk prepares to face the GOAT
It hasn’t always been pretty for Holland at this year’s tournament, but they’re through to the last eight.
Looking at their squad, that’s perhaps where you’d just about peg them as being at the moment. But judging by Argentina’s performances so far, they do have a chance of reaching the semi’s.
Of course, the South Americans do have arguably the greatest footballer ever in their ranks. Ironically though, this can often be a curse for the Argentine players.
As they look to get the ball to Messi as frequently as possible, they sometimes seem to forget that there are ten other players out there too.
They just about scraped past Australia last night, but will come up against a higher calibre against Holland.
The prospect of a van Dijk – Messi clash is also an enticing one. They last met at Anfield during Liverpool’s famous 4-0 win in 2019.
Reds fans will perhaps be hoping that the 31-year-old can shut Messi down just as effectively yet again. There will be plenty more who will hope to see the greatest ever player finally claim football’s greatest prize, and will support Argentina.
But we’re with Virg. The Liverpool No.4 has been looking for something to cement his place in the pantheon of all time centre-back greats. There’s nothing like a World Cup win against the GOAT to do that.
He’s going to need all of Ake’s help, though. City’s £40m man has been excellent at the tournament so far. Together, they make a pretty good pair. A Messi-stopping pair? We shall see.
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