Netherlands vs England: Ronald Koeman believes he has two best centre-backs in Europe in Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt

Netherlands vs England: Ronald Koeman believes he has two best centre-backs in Europe in Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman believes he has the two best central defenders in Europe.His side take on England in the Nations League semi-finals on Thursday, with full commentary of the clash LIVE on talkSPORT.Koeman has built an exciting team with Ajaxs Matthijs de Ligt and Liverpools Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence.Getty2

Ronald Koeman believes Van Dijk and De Ligt are better players than he ever was

The 56-year-old former Ajax and Barcelona defender believes they are both better than he ever was as a player.I was not the quality defender of De Ligt or Virgil, Koeman told the Daily Mail. They are top, top players.We have the best central defenders (in Europe) with De Ligt and Virgil. Thats great because you build the house, always, from downstairs. You dont start with the roof.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• Portugal vs Switzerland (Wednesday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT
• Netherlands vs England (Thursday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT
• France vs South Korea (Friday, 8pm) talkSPORT
• Denmark vs Republic of Ireland (Friday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT 2
• Croatia vs Wales (Saturday, 2pm) talkSPORT
• England vs Scotland (Sunday, 5pm) talkSPORT

When you look at Virgil now, this is a big, big personality on the pitch. He is a leader.That is why I made him captain. I knew him from Southampton. I thought: he can do more he can carry more responsibility. He is strong; he has a great character and enjoys the responsibility. He is a good boy.Getty Images - Getty2

Van Dijk was a star performer as Liverpool won their sixth European Cup in 2018/19

De Ligt is only 19! If you watch him play, you do not see a player who is only 19. You see a player who plays with so much more experience than he actually has.The season that he had and all the young boys at Ajax had is great for their development as players. De Ligt is one of the brightest young talents in world football and is set for a big money move this summer with Barcelona and Manchester United touted as possible destinations for the 75million-rated centre-half.Liverpool have also been linked with a swoop for De Ligt, and if they capture the wonderkid this summer Jurgen Klopp will be able to boast about owning the two best defenders in Europe.The pair already star together on the international stage, and the Anfield faithful would love to see them alongside one another on Merseyside as well.talkSPORT brings you full live commentary of every match at the Nations League finals, including Netherlands vs England on Thursday evening. Click HERE to tune in online, or listen through our radioplayer below…

---

Netherlands vs England: Ronald Koeman believes he has two best centre-backs in Europe in Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman believes he has the two best central defenders in Europe. His side take on England in the Nations League semi-finals on talkSPORT 1 day ago
Netherlands vs England: Frenkie de Jong leading Dutch

---

Netherlands vs England: Ronald Koeman believes he has two

---

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman believes he has the two best central defenders in Europe. His side take on England in the Nations League semi-finals on Thursday, with full commentary of the clash LIVE on talkSPORT. Koeman has built an exciting team with Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence.
Ronald Koeman believes he has two best centre-backs in Europe
fussboll.com/2019/06/04/ronald-koeman-believes-he-has-two-best-centre-backs-in-europe-in-virgil-van-dijk-and-matthijs-de-ligt/
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman believes he has the two best central defenders in Europe. His side take on England in the Nations League semi-finals on Thursday, with full commentary of the clash LIVE on talkSPORT. Koeman has built an exciting team with Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence.
Portugal vs Netherlands: Ronald Koeman confident Virgil van

---

Netherlands vs England: Frenkie de Jong leading Dutch transformation under Ronald Koeman What's behind the Netherlands' transformation? reign but De Ligt's emergence alongside Virgil van Dijk
Ajax star De Ligt tells Koeman about his future plans - One

---

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman believes he has the two best central defenders in Europe. His side take on England in the Nations League semi-finals on Thursday, with full commentary of the clash LIVE on talkSPORT. Koeman has built an exciting team with Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence.
Netherlands vs England: Ronald Koeman believes he has two

---

Netherlands vs England: Ronald Koeman believes he has two best centre-backs in Europe in Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt. will be able to boast about owning the two best defenders in Europe.
~ Netherlands vs England: Ronald Koeman believes he has two

---

Holland boss Ronald Koeman believes England have a chance of winning Euro 2020 and revealed Gareth Southgate's remodelling was a blueprint for his own approach to international management.. The

---

Ronald Koeman believes Netherlands' defensive stars Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt can shackle Cristiano Ronaldo when they take on Portugal in Sunday's Nations League final.
Netherlands vs England: Frenkie de Jong leading Dutch

---

Koeman fielded a back three in the early stages of his Netherlands reign but De Ligt's emergence alongside Virgil van Dijk has allowed him to switch to a four. Their centre-back pairing is as formidable as any other in world football. "With Virgil and De Ligt, you can say the Oranje has a senior captain and a youth captain," says Elfrink.
Depay hails Koeman for giving him freedom as Netherlands

---

Memphis Depay has praised Ronald Koeman for giving him freedom on the pitch as Netherlands prepare to face England in the last four of the Nations League finals. while Ajax stars Matthijs de
Ronald Koeman expects England to challenge for Euro 2020