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Virgil van Dijk has backed Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah to “turn disappointment into success” after Egypt failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup.
Salah, who had lasers directed at him from the crowd as he lined up his spot-kick, blazed over in the penalty shoot-out on Tuesday as it was Senegal – spearheaded by fellow Liverpool star Sadio Mane – who booked their spot in Qatar following a 1-1 aggregate draw across two legs.
It was the second time this year that Salah and Egypt have suffered shoot-out agony against Senegal, who triumphed in the same way in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Salah has been one of the standout players in European football this season, yet will not get the chance to show his quality on the biggest international stage.
While Van Dijk is disappointed for Liverpool’s talisman, he is confident the forward will use Egypt’s failure to spur the Reds on to more success this season, with a quadruple still on the cards for Jurgen Klopp’s team.
“Well obviously, I feel sorry for Mo and for Egypt, but football is sometimes like this,” Van Dijk told reporters after featuring in the Netherlands’ 1-1 friendly draw with Germany.
“I am sure he will turn the disappointment into success for the rest of the season.
“We still have everything to play for so there is a lot of things still to achieve for him.”
While Salah will return to Liverpool disappointed, Mane will come back knowing he is set to lead Senegal, who exited in the group stage in Russia in 2018.
Van Dijk was thrilled for Mane, but could not resist firing a warning shot his team-mate’s way.
“As for Sadio, I wish him all the best and if he is in our group, he is going to need that good luck,” the defender added.
