Virgil van Dijk set to play Tunisia after injury scare clears

Virgil van Dijk passes Tunisia fitness test ahead of Nations League clash

Virgil van Dijk will line up for Netherlands against Tunisia on Thursday after a last-minute injury scare was resolved. The Liverpool defender missed part of Tuesday’s session but has been declared fit to start the Nations League fixture.

What happened in the buildup?

Van Dijk pulled out of Wednesday’s full training run after feeling a slight tightness. The Dutch medical staff ran extra scans and mobility tests on Tuesday, then cleared him to face Tunisia. “He’s good to go,” said Ronald Koeman, the Netherlands manager, on Wednesday evening.

Why it matters for Virgil van Dijk

The 35-year-old’s availability lifts a weight off Koeman’s back after a fragile week. Tunisia arrive with pace on the break and a stingy backline-exactly the kind of side Liverpool’s centre-back grinds down. Van Dijk’s aerial dominance and ball-playing range will shape how high Netherlands press and how cleanly they recycle possession.

What comes next for Netherlands and Van Dijk

Kick-off in Enschede is set for 20:00 local time. Koeman has already rotated heavily in midfield, so Van Dijk’s presence steadies the defensive spine. A clean sheet against a Tunisia side that conceded just once in qualifying would send a statement ahead of the Euros next summer. If he stays fit, Van Dijk could anchor three straight starts-Sweden away, Bosnia at home, then Portugal in the Nations League semifinals.

The Dutch need Van Dijk at his best. Tunisia’s lone Nations League win last year came against a full-strength Algeria side; they’ll fancy their chances if the big Dutch stopper isn’t 100%.