Home ›› 03 Dec 2022 ›› Sport
The Round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup will begin today as Netherlands will take on USA at Khalifa International Stadium in AL Rayyan.
Both sides reached the knockouts without losing a game in the group stage. Netherlands topped Group A with seven points from two wins and a draw, while USA finished second in Group B behind England.
Netherlands secured the first position in the group defeating hosts Qatar 2-0 in the final matchday of the group stage with breakout talent Cody Gakpo and Frenkie De Jong scoring for them.
USA made their passage through to the knockouts by defeating Iran in a winner takes all battle, where Christian Pulisic scored from close range to break Iranian hearts.
Louis Van Gaal’s Netherlands, despite reaching the knockouts undefeated, have failed to impress as they managed only eight attempts in their group stage matches albeit the opponents being easier in comparison with the ones they have to face in the knockout stages.
But the fans can take positives from history as Netherlands have never lost a World Cup game in their last 19 matches against non-European opponents in 90 minutes. The Dutch are unbeaten in their last 10 World Cup games under Van Gaal, keeping clean sheets in five of their last six games in the finals, including shoot-outs in each of their last three knockout games.
Van Gaal also said that the criticism was similar to their 2014 campaign, where the veteran took the Dutch to the semis.
“In 2014 it was exactly the same, it was not different. It was very negative. But, the exact same thing now, same old, so I’m used to it and I think my players are also used to it. So we’re going to calmly continue on the path that we’ve embarked on,” he said in a press conference on Friday.
USA, on the other hand, are winless in their last 11 World Cup games against European nations (D6 L5) since beating Portugal 3-2 back in 2002. Overall, USA have beaten European nations only three times in all of their 23 games.
Van Gaal will have all of his squad members available for action in their first knockout tie, although defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Nathan Ake are at the risk missing of missing the quarters should they receive a yellow card in the match and the Dutch go through.
On the other side, Pulisic, who scored the winner against Iran and injured himself in the process, said he would do everything to play in the match.
“I’m going to go now and meet with the medical staff and make a decision. Taking it day by day right now, doing everything in my power to be out there on the field on Saturday,” he said.
The two sides have faced each other five times, with all of them being friendlies, where the Dutch won the first four before USA won a 4-3 thriller in 2015.
