Ripped-off Dutchmen silence critics
Created: 2022-12-03Updated: 2022-12-03, 7:37 p.m
The Netherlands is the first team to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
© Tom Weller/dpa
The criticism at home was great despite a sovereign group phase.
In the round of 16 against the USA, the Netherlands not only improved, but were already ready for the title over long stretches.
Al-Rajjan - Even the prominent whiners were put off.
"We're in the quarterfinals.
If you win, you have friends," said Dutch striker legend Marco van Basten on Dutch TV broadcaster NOS.
And former HSV professional Rafael van der Vaart said after Elftal's 3-1 (2-0) victory over the USA in the World Cup round of 16: "It's a team that's on the field.
Let's all talk - we're in the quarter-finals.” There could be a duel with Argentina next Friday and thus a football classic in World Cup history.
The criticism from home had caused hot days in the Oranje camp in Doha.
Although unbeaten group winners after three games, they were not satisfied with the style of play under Bonds coach Louis van Gaal.
It didn't look spectacular in the first knockout game, but it was enormously mature over long stretches.
How you play when you want to be world champion.
"It's hard for us to accept.
We were clearly better in the first half, but Holland had two moments," complained US coach Gregg Berghalter.
Dumfries: "You've seen the core of the system"
At the end of these moments, Memphis Depay (10th minute) and Daley Blind (45+1) scored.
The first goal in particular was Van Gaal football at its best.
“You saw all facets of our game.
How we attack the gaps and switch sides.
We do that in training.
You've seen the core of the system,” said Denzel Dumfries.
The full-back set up both goals, scored the final score himself in the 81st minute and was consequently named player of the match.
In front of 44,846 fans in the Chalifa International Stadium, the US boys came back through Haji Wright (76th), but the Oranje defense didn't really get nervous.
Memphis Depay (r) shoots the ball into the net to make it 1-0 for the Netherlands.
© Tom Weller/dpa
“Of course we are very happy to be in the quarter-finals.
But we also remain self-critical," said central defender Virgil van Dijk and added: "Many are critical at home because they know that we can play better.
There are still many things that we can do better.
Especially when we're in possession of the ball.” The 31-year-old commented on the prospect that three more wins would mean the world title: “That sounds very easy.
We will see.
In any case, we'll do everything we can to make it happen.” Defender Dumfries summed it up: “Overall I'm very happy.
We believe in ourselves, we have a strong team, great players, strong players."
First tournament goal for Depay
In contrast to his US coaching colleague Berhalter, who always pushed loudly and with gestures from the sidelines, the veteran van Gaal sat on his bench for almost the entire season.
As a World Cup oldie among the 32 coaches, the 71-year-old was delighted that Depay steered the game between two teams unbeaten in the group stage in the direction he wanted with his first goal of the tournament after a series of passes over 20 stations.
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Daley Blind made it 2-0 just before the break.
© Adam Davy/PA Wire/dpa
Depay, of all people, for whom principles coach van Gaal made what he said was a unique exception.
The FC Barcelona striker, who was out for two months with a thigh problem, was still allowed into the squad.
The fact that his most experienced man made it 2-0 and thus decided the game early fitted perfectly into van Gaal's strategy.
Blind, who has been playing with a pacemaker since late 2019, celebrated only his third goal in his 98th international match in the arms of Wout Weghorst.
After the cheering that followed right in front of van Gaal, there was a particularly warm hug from father and trainer Danny.
A special thanks from the scorers went to Dumfries, who set up the two goals.
US team lacks callousness
Pulisic, who suffered a bruised pelvis in the celebrated 1-0 winning goal against Iran, missed a great opportunity in the early stages (3').
His colleagues Tim Ream (52nd), Weston McKennie (54th) and Wright (75th) also appeared dangerously up front - but in the end the callousness was too often missing.
Berhalter, who was a professional in the Netherlands in the 1990s, tried to turn things around again with changes - including Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna - and, like last time in 2002, reached the quarter-finals.
On the other side, Matt Turner kept his team in the game, but the Dutch also played their attacks sloppily to the end.
dpa