Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai was in tears after Hungary coach Adam Szalai collapsed during the Nations League clash vs the Netherlands and Virgil van Dijk.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk during the match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. (Image: Marcel van Dorst/EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says it was “very scary” to witness Hungary assistant coach Adam Szalai collapse during Holland’s 4-0 UEFA Nations League victory on Saturday. The match in Amsterdam was abruptly paused after just seven minutes due to a medical emergency on the Hungary bench.

The game was put on hold for over 10 minutes as the 36-year-old received treatment, hidden from view by players and staff members by a large white sheet. He was later applauded by the crowd as he left the stadium on a stretcher before being rushed to hospital.

The Hungarian Football Association later released a statement saying Szalai’s condition was “stable” and that he is “conscious”. The former player, who made 86 appearances for his country before retiring last year, remained in an Amsterdam hospital for observation.

“It’s a shock of course,” said Netherlands and Liverpool captain Van Dijk, speaking to Dutch news outlet NOS after the match. “You see someone lying down. You see someone shaking. Then it’s a bit scary, to be honest.

“At one point it became clear that he was stable. I asked (Liverpool teammate Dominik) Szoboszlai if he had experienced this before. It turned out that he had. It was very scary to see, but I hope he is doing well and that he can recover well. This is the most important thing now.”

Liverpool’s Hungarian maestro Szoboszlai, captaining his nation at Euro 2024, witnessed a harrowing moment as teammate Barnabas Varga, who started in the game at the Johan Cruyff Arena, collapsed on the pitch following a clash with Scotland keeper Angus Gunn. He suffered a concussion and a broken cheekbone during the summer’s European Championship.

Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai with Virgil van Dijk (Image: Getty)

“I just looked out onto the bench and I watched the whole thing,” Szoboszlai said of the Szalai incident (via Magyar Nemzet). “He did so much for the national team and for each and every player that he deserves to fight for him on the field. When we held a meeting, everyone said that we should continue for him and for nothing else.”

Cody Gakpo maintained his red-hot form for his country, scoring from the penalty spot and sealing his team’s place in next year’s UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. Ryan Gravenberch also started for his nation.