Van Dijk bids farewell as Koeman leaves and the KNVB hunts a new coach

Van Dijk says goodbye to Koeman

Virgil van Dijk has gone public with his farewell to Ronald Koeman. The captain posted his message after the manager stepped down from the national team following the World Cup round of 16 exit to Morocco (1) (3) (5). "Bedankt voor alles," Van Dijk wrote, a line that carried weight after the dramatic penalty shootout defeat and the raw dressing room scenes that followed (3) (5). The message also included a pointed jab, with Van Dijk taking a subtle dig in his statement to the departing coach (5).

KNVB races to find a new coach

The Dutch FA has little time. The next match is 24 September at home against Germany, and the KNVB must now find a replacement for Koeman before that window closes (2). The profile of the job is clear: a coach willing to step into a squad still processing a painful elimination and a dressing room still raw from Monterrey.

Germany up next on 24 September

Your team's next match is locked in: Netherlands host Germany on 24 September (2). It will be the first test for whoever takes over from Koeman, and a chance to reset after the World Cup heartbreak.

Squad leaves US base camp

The players have left the World Cup base camp in the United States and are heading back to the Netherlands earlier than planned (4). The tournament adventure ends not with a deep run but with an early flight home and a squad in need of regrouping.