It was not all sparkling yet, but the Dutch national team has qualified for the knockout phase of the World Cup in Qatar. Last night, the host country was put aside 2-0 thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Frenkie de Jong. Earlier, the Dutch played a draw against Ecuador (1-1) and won against Senegal (2-0).
The Netherlands is therefore group winner of Group A at the controversial winter World Cup. Fine in terms of results, but not in terms of entertainment. The Orange Lion does not always roar. The game is viscous, the Netherlands hardly creates any opportunities and the substitution policy of national coach Louis van Gaal is also criticized.
The newspapers are also not kind to the Dutch national team. The Orange continues, but all frivolity seems to have been squeezed out of the team, headlines Trouw this morning. The Algemeen Dagblad writes: Cody Gakpo remains the only player who really gives glow to this still so faded Orange. De Telegraaf is even harder in an analysis: Game at the World Cup is a parody of Dutch football, says Valentijn Driessen. And De Volkskrant also thinks there is little to enjoy: Dutch national team matter of result, with sparse lick of orange entertainment.
It should therefore be a lot better next Saturday, in the eighth final against the United States. The players themselves see that too. Captain Virgil van Dijk tells NOS that there is more confidence after the win over Qatar, but that “of course it can be better”. National coach Van Gaal is happy with the group win, but also sees that not all players are in shape.
The first part of Van Gaal’s mission to become world champion has succeeded: getting through the group stage. Now the real work begins. To begin with, against the United States. “I have not seen them yet, only in summaries. Then you don’t have a good picture. But they finished second, then they are undoubtedly less good than number one,” Van Gaal said to NOS last night. He does know that Orange has to work. “America is very fanatical and sharp on the ball.”
How do you view this? Was the group stage just a matter of achieving results and will the Orange really go wild in the knockout phase? Or do you think that too many players are not in shape and that we still have a lot to do with America? Respond to our statement!