With us now a few days into the month of December, the first ever winter World Cup out
in the Qatari temperatures has already motored through the Group Stage games, and
there have been plenty of surprising and shock results already and on Saturday, the first
knockout stage games got underway and the Netherlands were the first side to book
their place in the
2022 Quarter Finals.
Although the United States started brightly and had the first best chance of the 90
minutes, manager Louis van Gaal's side grew into the game and turned on the style to
take a pretty comfortable 3-1 victory out at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha to
see themselves through to the next stage and the team will have had their eye on
the
latest football scores to see their next opposition.
Inter Milan defender, Denzil Dumfries, was on fire in the game and helped himself to two
first half assists as Memphis Depay scored ten minutes in, and Daley Blind got a second
goal in first half stoppage time. With the USA making it a one goal game in the 76th
minute as they made it 2-1, Dumfries went one better and got himself on the scoresheet
(with Blind returning the favour for his assist).
Whilst this is not a return to the classic Dutch way of playing, they are an organised and
well drilled side given Van Gaal's vast experience in the game, and they certainly should
not be discounted - there is plenty of quality as the first goal demonstrated as it came at
the end of a 21 passing move.
Having swept the US aside following their impressive form in the Group Stage games
against Senegal, Ecuador and hosts Qatar, their 71 year old manager was in a
hugely confident mood,
stating that he feels his side have 'big chances' to go all the way at this
years tournament and potentially lift the trophy in his third spell in charge of the side.
“I think we have big chances here. We still have three matches to go. I’ve been talking
about this for a year. We can become world champions – not that we will – but we can. I
am talking about team-bonding, how we can build the
strongest possible team and I
derive pleasure from the group of players and, of course, performances and results.”
Given Dumfires' overall performance in the game with his brace of assists and the third
goal in the game, the 26 year old was named as the man of the match winner and was
sat alongside the media as they met with the media, and when Van Gaal was asked
about how highly regarded he was in his set up, he simply proceeded to kiss him on the
cheek.
“Denzel knows that full well. Yesterday or the day before yesterday, I gave him a big fat
kiss. I’m going to give him another big fat kiss now so that everyone can see.”
Van Gall will now prepare the side for their Quarter Final tie against Argentina on Friday,
December 9 which kicks off at 19:00 UK time. Argentina booked their own Quarter Final
spot by taking a 2-1 win over Australia.