The Costa Rica-Netherlands penalty shootout in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil remains etched in the retina of soccer lovers. A minute before the end of extra time in that quarterfinal tie, Louis van Gaal surprised everyone by replacing Cillessen, the starting goalkeeper, with substitute Krul. The play couldn't have gone rounder: the newcomer saved two maximum penalties and the clockwork orange advanced round. In the semifinals against Argentina he could not repeat the feat. He soon exhausted the three changes and from eleven meters he said goodbye to the World Cup. With the five substitutions already established, Van Gaal will have the chance to try to surprise again under the sticks in his latest adventure on the bench.
His notebook runs out, he runs out of pages, but even in the last one he is determined to innovate, again stubborn in the goal. In the last national team stoppage he called seven goalkeepers. “I am looking for the best penalty taker. I always try to find small advantages and pay special attention to this matter. In a tournament like a World Cup it can be decisive, ”he explained. The former Blaugrana coach has added to his coaching staff a former Dutch volleyball coach who is also a psychologist. He will be in charge of working with the goalkeepers on the mental game to try to destabilize the pitcher. “We will probably be the first country to do this on a scientific basis.”
Beyond the goal, without a doubt the most unstable position, the Dutch want to raise their voices in Qatar. In his third stage in the national team, Van Gaal has wickerwork so that the 'Oranje', which has cherished the World Cup three times, achieves his goal. For this he will need players like the Blaugrana Memphis and Frenkie de Jong to step up and others who arrive in good shape like Bergwijn (Ajax) and Gakpo (PSV) not to lower the bar. All this supervised under the watchful eye of Virgil van Dijk, the thermometer of this selection. If the Liverpool centre-back shows his best, defensive consistency is all but guaranteed.
Qualified for the 'Final Four' of the Nations League, its positive dynamics make it the rival to beat in its group. Only Sadio Mané's Senegal, a priori, should stand up to him. It will be the third participation of the Teranga lions, current African champions, in the World Cup after beating Salah's Egypt in the playoffs.
Matching the milestone of the generation that excited an entire country in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan (quarterfinals) is the great dream. More affordable for the Netherlands should be against Ecuador and the host Qatar, led by the Barcelonan Félix Sánchez, made in la Masia. On the designation of the Arab country as the venue, Van Gaal called it "ridiculous". "It's just about money and business interests." At 71 years old and after overcoming cancer, it will not be now when he bites his tongue.
