The Orange trains with 26 players, Van Gaal sprinkles with compliments in the run-up to the World Cup match with Ecuador | 2022 Football World Cup

Journalists were only allowed to follow the practice session for fifteen minutes, after which the national team continued behind closed doors.

The Orange and Ecuador have started the World Cup with a victory. Van Gaal’s team distanced itself from Senegal (2-0) in the final phase on Monday and Ecuador defeated Qatar on Sunday with the same figures in the opening game. Enner Valencia scored both goals against the hosts. Ecuador not only has a dangerous striker. The team of national coach Gustavo Alfaro has not conceded a goal for seven matches in a row.

Van Gaal is looking forward to it, as can be seen from the images below, in which the national coach sprinkles a lot of compliments. Justin Bijlow and Davy Klaassen, among others, receive kudos.

Listen to our World Cup Football podcast below, including a look at the line-up of the Dutch against Ecuador.

The Orange may already qualify for the eighth finals against Ecuador. Van Gaal’s team must then win itself and also depends on the result at Qatar against Senegal. Only if Qatar does not win that game will the Orange officially qualify.

Unlike the Champions League, for example, in the World Cup, the goal difference is first considered in the event of an equal number of points. If that is also a tie, the number of goals scored is decisive. Only then is it about the mutual result.

If Qatar beats Senegal on Friday, and the Netherlands beats Ecuador, the Orange will be on 6 points and Qatar and Ecuador both on 3. Senegal will then be eliminated with 0 points. In the last round, the Netherlands – Qatar and Ecuador – Senegal are on the program. With a win over Qatar and Ecuador, three countries finished on 6 points.

The Orange knows where it stands before the duel with Ecuador. Qatar and Senegal play earlier on Friday.

Van Gaal will give a press conference from 12.45 p.m. The national coach has already announced that Memphis Depay will probably participate in half. Van Gaal may also say whether Matthijs de Ligt will be kicking off again. The Bayern Munich defender himself was not satisfied with his game against Senegal. Both Jurriën Timber and Stefan de Vrij can replace him.

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