Northern Ireland v Netherlands

Words Darren Fullerton The Mirror

KYLE ENJOYS TESTING HIMSE AGAINST THE BEST Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against the best defender in the world once again in tonight’s Euro 2020 qualifier at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

“I always said Hummels and Boateng were two of the best I’ve played against when we faced Germany at Euro 2016 and in the last World Cup qualification campaign. “But I think van Dijk takes it to another level. He’s got everything - he’s a unit and his range of passing, whether it’s 10 yards or 60 yards, is superb. “I enjoyed testing myself against him in Rotterdam and hopefully I did enough to get another chance to play against him in on Saturday night.” Lafferty started last month’s defeat to the Dutch but watched on helplessly from the bench as Ronald Koeman’s men performed a late escape act in Rotterdam.

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk was crowned UEFA Player of the Year back in August and is also firm favourite to lift the coveted Ballon D’Or next month. Lafferty may have come up against the likes of Germany’s Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng, Italian captain Georgio Chiellini and Spanish star Carles Puyol during his 13-year international career. But the 32-year-old believes Liverpool star van Dijk, who captained the Dutch to a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland in Rotterdam last month, is on a different level. “I’ve always wanted to test myself against the best defenders in the world and I don’t think you get any better than van Dijk,” said the Sarpsborg 08 forward.

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