Van Dijk, who captains Ronald Koeman's side, found himself at the centre of debate following the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan in their opening Group F match, a game in which he struggled to impose himself against a compact and disciplined opponent. Despite being named Player of the Match, the 34-year-old was singled out by Van der Vaart, working as a pundit for Dutch broadcaster NOS, in comments that quickly sparked controversy.

"I must honestly say that I was a bit shocked by Van Dijk," Van der Vaart said. "That turning… it was a bit of a Boeing 747. I hope he will run a little faster during the tournament."

The former Netherlands international's remarks, aimed at Van Dijk's mobility and agility, drew significant attention for their blunt tone. Van der Vaart also suggested the Liverpool defender looked uncomfortable when turning in tight spaces during the match.

Van Dijk, however, responded calmly to the performance, acknowledging the challenge posed by Japan's compact defensive setup. "We played against a Japan that kept it very compact. That was difficult," he said. "We can certainly do better. Onto the next one."

The Netherlands quickly responded on the pitch, producing a convincing 5-1 victory over Sweden to take control of Group F and move closer to qualification for the knockout stages.

It was after that win that Klopp, who managed Van Dijk at Liverpool between 2018 and 2024 and helped him become one of the world's leading centre-backs, publicly dismissed Van der Vaart's criticism.

"I don't know if it's worth naming Rafael van der Vaart at all," Klopp said on German television. "But if he ever says something positive about a player, I'm willing to take him seriously again."

He added: "You get the feeling he sees something, which then has to be expressed in a flowery way and then he goes against it. But it's not that important."

Klopp's defence carries particular weight given his successful partnership with Van Dijk at Liverpool, where the pair won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two Carabao Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

The German coach's comments underline his continued belief in the Netherlands captain, who remains a central figure for both club and country despite occasional scrutiny over form and fitness.

Van der Vaart, meanwhile, has stood by his analysis as part of his role in Dutch media, though his wider punditry style has at times drawn criticism for its bluntness.

With two group matches played, the Netherlands sit top of Group F and are in strong position to reach the last 32, where they are projected to face Morocco. Their final group match against already-eliminated Tunisia will decide final seeding as Koeman's side continue their push for World Cup success.

For Van Dijk, the focus now shifts firmly back to the pitch - but the debate over his performance has already spilled into one of the tournament's early talking points, intensified further by Klopp's public intervention in his defence.

Brandon Petersen: It is very important to keep the ball rolling