Liverpool's big World Cup loss, Jürgen Klopp is devastated

Klopp is saddened by the absence affecting the Reds and the Anfield fans

19/11/2022, 05:44 PM +00:00

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk believes the World Cup will be poorer without former club team-mate Sadio Mané, even though the Dutch now face a weaker Senegal side in their opening Group A match on Monday. Senegal star Mané was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar late on Thursday after team doctors re-examined a final batch of scans on his knee injury, suffered earlier this month in a Bundesliga match with his new club Bayern Munich, and said his recovery could take several months.

Senegal star Mané was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar late on Thursday after team doctors re-examined a final batch of scans on his knee injury, suffered earlier this month in a Bundesliga match with his new club Bayern Munich, and said his recovery could take several months.

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Mané was Van Dijk's Liverpool team-mate until the end of last season and the pair were set for a reunion on the pitch when the Netherlands and Senegal kick off their World Cup campaign at Al Thumama Stadium. "I am very sorry that Sadio will miss the game against us because this World Cup deserves the best players, and Sadio is one of them," said Van Dijk.

"Sadio is a world-class player, he is my friend and I will miss him." Van Dijk also agreed with the opinion of coach Louis van Gaal, who earlier in the week said the Dutch could be a team to watch out for at the tournament. "For me, Argentina, Brazil and France are the favourites," he told reporters.

Van Dijk will miss Mané

"The Brazilians are always there. The Argentinians are strong and the French have a great team. We have a good group, we have a very experienced coach, but above all we have team spirit." Senegal's national team will suffer a very heavy casualty for the Qatar 2022 World Cup after star player Sadio Mané was confirmed as a casualty to the 26-man squad they will take to the Middle East to contest the tournament.