The quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar will have their orange field. The Netherlands did not fail, a not very brilliant but very effective selection, more than enough arguments for it to begin to be taken into account. Those of Van Gaal did not change their recipe against the United States, which showed itself to be a very combative rival but too tender in attack, no matter how much it treasures the genes of such illustrious surnames as Weah or Reyna among its ranks.
The favorite won in the first round of 16 without the need for fanfare. The footballers from the Netherlands, who all seem to be very diligent and studious students, with exceptions like Frenkie de Jong or Memphis, more mischievous than the others, completed a very serious match. Although yesterday the one who really deviated from the norm was Dumfries, the undisputed protagonist of the Dutch triumph, signing a goal and two assists, completing his exhibition by saving a goal under sticks.
With the victory signed at the Khalifa, in addition, the Dutch team has already chained eleven World Cup games in a row without knowing defeat in regulation time, the best streak in its entire history.
He was able to blow up the planned script in practically the first play of the game, in which Pulisic badly spoiled a magnificent opportunity, only against Noppert. He did not leave the Netherlands feeling good in that initial stretch, as if he was half asleep. But Pulisic's miss woke him up with a start, as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on his head in mid-nap, and he began to carburete.
Everything turned to Van Gaal's team right away, demonstrating a most accurate aim in his first approach to the area of the stars and stripes. Memphis finished off a goal and became the second all-time top scorer for the orange team, behind only Van Persie. But the 1-0 was the culmination of a marvelous play, with a rondo at the first touch in midfield to overcome the American pressure that ended with Dumfries's cross and the ex-Barcelona's goal.
The goal acted as a sedative for the match, a scenario that Van Gaal's men dominate so well, whose return to the Dutch bench is being most triumphant, now added 19 games without losing. The only one who was out of the norm was Frenkie de Jong, who recovers his smile dressed in orange and is the compass that guides everything. There was no response from the United States, which collided head-on with the second just before heading towards the locker room. Without doing anything special, the Netherlands tied half a passport thanks, again, to the center of Dumfries.
With this panorama, everything invited us to think of a quiet second half, with orange dominance and without major setbacks. But as soon as the players returned to the green, the game was revolutionized and it became clear that qualifying for the quarterfinals of a World Cup was not going to be so easy. Nobody was going to get bored.
Gapko took a shot from Ream over the line that revived the Americans, who needed the invaluable help of Turner's saves to stay alive. In five minutes of madness, Wright got too cornered when half the stadium claimed a goal, Memphis failed miserably and Dumfries cleared sticks and, finally, Wright managed to beat Noppert and added sauce to the Qatari afternoon.
The revolution was quickly aborted by the undisputed protagonist of the afternoon, Denzel Dumfries, who finished off the third at will after a great center from Blind.
Now yes, the curtain was lowered on the meeting and on the participation of the United States in Qatar. The Netherlands will continue to fight for the title.
The favorite won in the first match of the round of 16 without the need for too much fanfare. The footballers from the Netherlands, who all seem to be very diligent and studious students, with exceptions like Frenkie de Jong or Memphis, more mischievous than the others, completed a very serious match. With the victory signed in the Khalifa, in addition, the Dutch team has already chained eleven World Cup games in a row without knowing defeat in regulation time, the best streak in its entire history.
3 - Países Bajos: Andries Noppert, Jurrien Timber, Virgil Van Dijk, Nathan Aké (Weghorst, m.94); Davy Klaasen (Koopmeiners, m.46), Marten De Roon (Berswijn, m.46) Frenkie De Jong; Daley Blind, Denzel Dumfries; Memphis Depay (Simons, m.82) y Cody Gakpo (De Ligt, m.94).
1 - United States: Matt Turner; Sergio Dest (Yedlin, m.75), Walter Zimmerman, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson (Morris, m.92); Weston McKennie (Wright, m.67), Tyler Adams; Tim Weah (Aaronson, m.67), Jesus Ferreira (Queen, m.46) and Christian Pulisic.
Goles: 1-0, m.10: Depay. 2-0, m.46 . Blind. 2-1, m.76: Wright. 3-1, m.81. Dumfries.
Referee: Wilton Sampaio (Brazil). He showed a yellow card to the Dutch Koopmeiners (m.60) and De Jong (m.87)
Incidents: Match corresponding to the round of 16 of the Qatar 2022 World Cup played at the Al Khalifa stadium in Al Rayyan before 44,846 spectators.
