Again lacklustre, but again mercilessly effective: The Dutch dream of the first star continues thanks to two almost identical goals.
The eleven won 3:1 (2:0) against outsiders USA in the World Cup last 16 and extended the farewell tour of outgoing Bonds coach Louis van Gaal. For the seventh time, the Netherlands are among the best eight teams in the world, but they have never won the World Cup trophy despite three appearances in the final.
Memphis Depay (10) and Daley Blind (45.+1) both scored free-flowing from Denzel Dumfries’ cross into the back of the net from the right. Dumfries himself made everything clear (81st) after the ex-Schalker Haji Wright (76th) had reduced the score with a curious goal.
The Netherlands, who are unbeaten in 19 games, will face either Argentina or Australia in the quarter-finals on Friday. The US boys’ dream of reaching their second quarter-final since 2002 was shattered when they were eliminated from the first knockout round for the third time in a row. In four years they will host the World Cup for the second time after 1994.
The Dutch mood after the preliminary round was that they had progressed with aplomb, but were scolded at home for their “somnambulistic” (Telegraaf) football. “We’ll see each other in the final,” van Gaal, who was retiring after the World Cup, replied to a grumbling journalist. Only attacker Cody Gakpo provided arguments for this thesis in the group phase with three goals in three games.
The US Americans had been carried through the preliminary round with strong performances by ex-Dortmund player Christian Pulisic, who was fit in time after a bruised pelvis. And after only 130 seconds, the hopeful failed alone in front of goal due to a brilliant foot save by Andries Noppert. In general, the US boys started very briskly in front of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, the Netherlands could hardly free themselves from the high pressing.
But when they managed to do so for the first time in a controlled manner, the eleven immediately took the lead. Dumfries, after quickly bridging the midfield, crossed into the back area, where Depay finished free into the far corner. The favourites then took better control of the game in front of 44,846 spectators at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Virgil van Dijk and Co. became more active against the ball, the possession phases became more frequent. But as in the previous round, they couldn’t really do much with it, there was a lack of tempo and spirit. The 2:0 came out of nowhere – and was a copy of the 1:0.
After the changeover, the game livened up a bit and there were more goals. The USA were now fully committed to the offensive. First Gakpo saved on his own goal line against Tim Ream (49th), then Dumfries against Wright (75th). Shortly afterwards, the ex-Schalker scored magically with a hooked loupe. But the strong Dumfries nipped the US hopes in the bud with a volley.