Louis van Gaal, national coach of the Netherlands, denies the DFB team the necessary discipline and also has a clear opinion on political statements.
Al-Rajjan - The national team of the Netherlands is already playing its second game of the 2022 World Cup on Friday, but not only the upcoming game against Ecuador was the topic of conversation at the press conference with Bonds coach Louis van Gaal.
The former Bayern Munich coach has a clear opinion as to why the DFB-Elf lost their opening game against Japan.
In addition, he also commented on why no political sign could be expected from his team.
Louis van Gaal: DFB defeat "says something"
With Argentina's defeat by Saudi Arabia and Germany's 2-1 defeat by the national team of Japan, the first day of the preliminary round of the World Cup had two surprises in store.
Surprises that also provoked reactions in the Dutch camp.
"The fact that Argentina and Germany lost says something," Bond coach Louis van Gaal begins his factual comment.
Football World Cup: All world champions from 1930 to 2018
Football World Cup: All world champions from 1930 to 2018
As analytical as van Gaal is in his view of football, he also addresses things as clearly.
"Germany attacked a lot in the first half but didn't score.
It has a lot to do with discipline,” is how van Gaal clearly categorized the German performance, accusing the DFB kickers of lack of discipline.
Bond coach van Gaal: "My team is disciplined for 90 minutes"
Whether the Elftal coach would be so casual about the performance of other teams if his team hadn't won the first game 2-0 against Senegal remains questionable.
The Senegalese, weakened by the loss of Bayern star Sadio Mané, were able to keep the game open until the 84th minute.
Only then could the Netherlands, in the person of Cody Gakpo, make it 1-0.
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Louis van Gaal at the press conference ahead of the game against Ecuador.
© IMAGO/Pro Shots Photo Agency
The reason for the late win against Senegal is clear to van Gaal.
In contrast to Hansi Flick's team, his eleven have the necessary discipline: "I dare to say: My team is disciplined for 90 minutes." should by no means be set in stone.
On the second day of Group A against Ecuador (Friday, 17:00), van Gaal expects a more challenging game than against Senegal.
Behind political issues 'made a point'
The Dutch coach also has a clear stance on possible political statements by his team.
"Before the first game, we put a stop behind the political questions," he explains, and explains why afterwards: "It's about a goal and we don't let ourselves be distracted from it, neither by FIFA nor by other organizations."
Whether and how the protest action by the DFB players, which caused a sensation across Europe, before the game against Japan directed the attention of the team away from the sporting side, is pure coffee grounds reading.
However, one player from the Belgian team, Eden Hazard, a bench-warmer at Real Madrid, has a clear opinion on the impact of the protest.
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Rubric list image: © IMAGO/Pro Shots Photo Agency
