It was confirmed this morning that the center-back has left the Dutch camp before their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UEFA Nations League.
Before the following game, Van Dijk led his nation to a 4-0 victory over Hungary in Amsterdam on Saturday, securing their place in the Nations League quarterfinals.
Before the Reds’ campaign resumes on Sunday with a trip to Southampton, he will return to the AXA Training Centre this week for evaluation.
Despite the draw with Luxembourg, Northern Ireland is promoted to the Nations League
Even though Northern Ireland lost a two-goal lead in three minutes, Michael O’Neill’s team managed to achieve promotion as Group 3C victors with a 2-2 Nations League tie against Luxembourg.
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Isaac Price gave Northern Ireland the lead in the 19th minute, and Conor Bradley extended the lead early in the second half, giving the impression that they were in control. However, Seid Korac pulled Luxembourg back into the game in the 72nd minute, and Gerson Rodrigues equalized shortly after.
Northern Ireland persevered and won the point, along with a 1-1 draw between Belarus and Bulgaria, to take the lead in the group by two points. It set up a suspenseful finish at the Stade de Luxembourg.
O’Neill will be upset that his team lost what appeared to be a comfortable lead as they looked for their first competitive away victory since defeating San Marino 2-0 in March of last year, his first game back as manager, but Northern Ireland can rejoice in their advancement.
O’Neill reduced the average age to 22.2, making it Northern Ireland’s youngest starting XI since World War II. He made two changes from Friday’s 2-0 victory over Belarus in Belfast, one of which was imposed.
Ethan Galbraith got his first start, earning his fourth cap five years after making his debut in a friendly match against the same opposition, while Ruairi McConville, who made his debut as a late substitute last week, replaced the suspended Ciaron Brown.
The Leyton Orient midfielder was a part of Northern Ireland’s calm, promising start. They moved the ball efficiently, and Dion Charles nearly scored in the ninth minute but was stopped by a late challenge from Korac.
After successfully regaining control, Northern Ireland’s midfield duo of Shea Charles and Ali McCann created another opportunity in the eighteenth minute, but Price was unable to reach Galbraith’s low cross.
When Northern Ireland scored their goal a minute later, it was nearly a repetition.
Bradley gained possession this time, Shea Charles pushed it forward, and Price scored his fourth goal in his past six games and sixth goal for his nation with a first-time effort after Dion Charles stepped over it well.
Price missed a shot from Bradley’s low ball at the conclusion of the half, but he should have done much better after coming near again with a curling effort.
Due in major part to a howler from goalkeeper Tiago Pereira, Northern Ireland was celebrating once more five minutes into the second half.
Price’s cross should have been straightforward for the goalie, but Pereira allowed it to evade him, allowing Bradley the 100th goal for Northern Ireland during O’Neill’s two stints as manager.
With the net gaping in front of him, the Liverpool player missed a great opportunity to make it 3-0 in the 65th minute after another Price cross.
As a result, Luxembourg was able to enter and quickly did so. Pierce Charles was defeated for the first time in his fourth appearance for Northern Ireland as Korac came to prod home a free-kick that was floated in from deep by former Norwich winger Daniel Sinani.
It was level after three minutes. Rodrigues was able to make a perfect half-volley into the top corner after Northern Ireland was only able to partly clear a cross.
Ralph Schon, who was just on to replace Pereira and whose long ball forward set up the attack, was congratulated by a number of Luxembourg players.
Moments later, as the game opened up, Schon stretched to block Galbraith’s shot, but Northern Ireland held on and the score remained level.
