US players during training. Reuters
Doha: With extra time and shootout dramas a possibility, the heartbreaks and wild celebrations will surely be seen in the next 16 days as the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup gets underway today.
Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands will take on Gregg Berhalter’s USA in the opening last-16 stage clash at the Khalifa International Stadium with a quarter-final berth on offer in the match what is the first competitive international between the two nations.
The Dutch – finalists of 1974, 1978 and 2010 editions - topped Group A with 2-0 wins over African champions Senegal and hosts Qatar besides a 1-1 draw against Ecuador.
The Americans were also unbeaten in Group B but they finished runners-up behind England, beating Iran and drawing with England and Wales.
Van Gaal, who guided the Netherlands to a third-place finish in 2014 in Brazil, rated USA as among the best sides at this World Cup.
“They have an excellent team, I would say even one of the best teams,” the Dutch coach told a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“It’ll be a tough match but it’s nothing we can’t overcome. We also have a good team.”
“But I’m not going to downplay the USA. I think they’re an example of what a good team is. There are teams who progressed who are not good teams but who have great individual quality. We will do everything we can to win and to beat the USA,” said Van Gaal.
The Dutch coach rejected criticism of his team’s performance in the group stage where they failed to impress with exception of forward Cody Gakpo, who can become the first player to score in four successive FIFA World Cup matches today.
“In principle I would say that we started off with a squad with lots of people who were not match fit, they’ve all been given the opportunity to play and we went through the group stage quite smoothly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gakpo had said earlier he his giving his best to help the Oranje finally lifting the World Cup after losing three finals.
“We want to win each game, one after the other, because our goal is to be world champions,” said Gakpo.
“We are working hard for that. Having scored three goals... It’s always important to score, of course, but I’m happy to help the team.”
The Netherlands’ Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, Nathan Ake, Tyrell Malacia, Xavi Simons and Wout Weghorst during training. Reuters
Berhalter hopeful Pulisic will play today
Meanwhile, Berhalter is hopeful that Christian Pulisic will feature against the Netherlands.
The Chelsea star scored the game-winning goal against Iran but suffered a pelvic contusion in the process after colliding with goalkeeper Allireza Beiranvand.
“What I think is it looks pretty good. But I have to see him on the pitch today to get confirmation of that,” Berhalter told reporters yesterday.
“With Christian we’re hopeful, with (Josh) a little less so,” Berhalter said of striker Josh Sargent, who was also injured during the match against Iran.
“But we’ll see. At this stage of the tournament it’s go time. If you can push through it, you do. I’m sure he’ll have that mindset.”
Berhalter, who featured for several Dutch clubs during his playing career, hoped the lessons from his experience would help him in the match.
“I learnt so much in Holland. It’s almost like, what concepts haven’t I taken from Dutch football? It was a great experience being there,” he said.
“After every training session and every game, you have a debate with your players about it. People love to discuss soccer and you really learn a lot. And it was a great time for me. If I wasn’t in Holland, I don’t think I would have had that background that really helped shape my ideas,” he said.
Apart from their semi-final appearance at the 13-team tournament in 1930, USA have advanced to the quarter-finals only once from their four previous last 16 fixtures when they defeated Mexico in 2002.
Both the teams have squared off in five friendlies before with the Netherlands winning the first four games. USA defeated them 4-3 in Amsterdam in their most recent friendly in 2015.
When: Today at 6:00pm
Where: Khalifa International Stadium
Capacity: 45,857
Key stats:
- The Netherlands have been World Cup runners-up three times - in 1974, 1978 and 2010 - but have yet to win it.
- The Dutch secured a spot in the Round of 16 by finishing top of Group A, beating African champions Senegal 2-0, hosts Qatar 2-0 and drawing 1-1 draw Ecuador.
- The Dutch are unbeaten in their last 18 games after their elimination at Euro 2020.
- Cody Gakpo has three goals in three games for the Dutch.
- The United States reached the knockout stage by finishing second behind England in Group B, beating Iran and drawing with England and Wales.
- The United States are returning to the World Cup after failing to qualify for Russia 2018.
- Defender DeAndre Yedlin is the only player in the US squad with any World Cup experience.
Previous meetings:
The United States and Netherlands have met five times with the Dutch winning four. The Americans won their last meeting 4-3 in 2015.
