Even on international duty, kicking about in the tunnel with his mates, when there are no TV cameras around, Virgil van Dijk finds new ways to show us just how much of a tank he really is.
Preparing for a Nations League double header with France and Germany, it appears someone has hung a football about 15ft in the air, which of course is like a red rag to a particularly raging bull when Big Virg is in the vicinity.
Virgil van Dijk could win a header against the Statue of Liberty!
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) November 15, 2018
Poor Gigi Wijnaldum at the end can barely reach with his hand...
(Insta: ryanbabel) pic.twitter.com/pdnbo0Btev
The world's most expensive defender, as you would expect, seems to have taken it as a challenge, and runs at his dangling target with the intensity and Olympic poise of a gold medal pole vaulter.
The slow motion capture of the leap at the end (as posted by ex-Liverpool man Ryan Babel on Instagram) only adds to the majestic air of the feat. Look at the grace in his final strides, look at the form as he flies off the ground. In the moment, he's a NBA player going for a slam dunk more than he is a Premier League centre-back.
If you think I’m sitting here, at 2 in the morning, repeatedly revelling at how high Virgil van Dijk can jump..........Then you’d be absolutely spot on.
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) November 15, 2018
His celebration isn't quite as cool, granted. He loses points for his lack of modesty. But look at his despairing Liverpool teammate Gini Wijnaldum as he tries to reach the Breda Behemoth's
With France next on the Netherlands' agenda, you can only feel for Olivier Giroud, or whichever mere forward has the arduous task of losing headers to the magnificent Dutch captain for 90 minutes or so.
Virgil van Dijk seems to win every single high ball that goes anywhere near him. It's like a load of dwarves trying to go up against Andre the Giant.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) November 11, 2018
After that, it's Germany, and then another clean sheet in the Premier League, this time against Watford.
Source : 90min