The Netherlands booked their spots in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup after a 3-1 win over the USA thanks to a ruthless display of finishing. Louis van Gaal's side went ahead in the 10th minute when Memphis Depay crowned a magnificent 21-pass move by turning in Denzel Dumfries' cross. Daley Blind doubled the lead before Haji Wright's freak finish cut the deficit but Dumfries added the third late on. Gulf News football experts discuss the match and look ahead to tomorrow’s matches.
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00:00Hello and welcome to Golf News kicking back where we have just seen the first, last 16
00:15match between the Netherlands and the USA where the Netherlands ran out comfortable
00:203-1 winners. It was the first time in fact in the tournament where we've actually seen
00:25the Netherlands play some of that football that we all know that they're capable of.
00:28In the group stages they seemed too flattered to deceive even though they'd got two wins
00:32and a draw. But Sharm, this finally looks like that they're playing and putting together
00:37a decent game and they scored three really good goals today.
00:41I wouldn't say it's a complete turnaround as yet because they're coming together a lot
00:49better than the previous games. But even today it is more of their skill or maybe their professionalism
00:58which came to the fore really. See they got four chances, they put three of them in. But
01:03then more of the match was played by the USA. But the Dutch we know, they are very clinical
01:11finishers. They are ruthless and you don't give them chances like that. Four mistakes,
01:19they scored three. So this is the Dutch we know. But we've still not yet seen the flowing
01:25football that the Dutch are capable of. But I'm sure they are getting there.
01:31It looks like Sharm that there's signs of life from them. But it could have been a totally
01:35different game had Christian Pulisic put that chance away after just three minutes. He was
01:40clean through. He looked across to see if the flag had gone up for offside. He was onside
01:45and his left foot shot lacked any power and the keeper made a brave stop. Had that gone
01:49in Sharm and had the Netherlands been chasing this game, could we have been looking at a
01:54totally different result today?
01:55Absolutely, yes. If that had gone in, yes. The whole tenor of the match could have changed.
02:03I think you got it right. Because the whole problem was Pulisic was worried that he was
02:07offside. I think that affected his concentration a bit. So in one-on-one situations, that kind
02:14of split-second hesitation, that is what did him in. I think if that ball had gone in,
02:19like you said, we would have had a different match in our hands.
02:23That's absolutely right, Sharm. That split-second gave the keeper the advantage. He came out
02:27narrow at the angle and used his leg to good effect to stop that opportunity. But let's
02:32bring Satish in. Satish, the US can be quite pleased having reached the last 16 of the
02:37tournament, having done okay in the group stage. And they can go home not too disappointed,
02:42can't they?
02:43Yes, absolutely. I think that's a huge credit to them. Because reaching the last 16 in a
02:51World Cup, it's always incredible in an awkward stage where anything can go anywhere. And
02:56Dutch having the experience of being one of the big nations in the footballing world,
03:01I think they can be proud of their effort. Yes, maybe we all thought the surprises will
03:08go on in the last 16 stage also. But that was not to be. But Dutch did a good job to
03:15keep the sanity intact in the last 16 so far.
03:19You're right, Satish. But we could be seeing some more shocks. There's going to be plenty
03:24of clashes coming up. But Sharm, let's bring Sharm back in. Louis van Gaal, we know he's
03:29been around the block plenty of times. He took the Netherlands to the semi-final in
03:33the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they lost on penalties to Argentina. He's got them to
03:38the quarter-finals. Just how far do you think he can guide this current team?
03:43I think they are quite capable of going all the way up to the semi-finals because if they
03:49keep the pace. Like you said, van Gaal is an old fox. He's been at this game for far
03:56too long. He knows exactly what to do to win. Even today, if you look at it, the Dutch strategy
04:02was very clear. Full credit to van Gaal for that because the pace and intensity from the
04:08USA was so good. But the Dutch never tried to match that. They just stood back, defended
04:15and caught them on the counters. And those counters were so fast and so effective. That's
04:21all they needed to do. Three goals. And what a performance from Denzel Dumfries. Two assists
04:26and a goal. And so also Nopper, the goalkeeper, he brought a fantastic show. So, I mean,
04:33Daliblin, an assist and a goal. So, I think they are really, really getting there. I think
04:40they are going up by a notch with every game. So, I think they are quite capable of going up to
04:47the semi-finals. But van Gaal says they can go to the final. But of course, he's the coach,
04:52he would say that. But I think realistically, a semi-final looks like a distinct possibility now.
04:59There was a brilliant press conference yesterday, Shaham, with Louis van Gaal.
05:04One journalist, he said, you know, the football is just so boring. I'm not excited by the football.
05:10Van Gaal's response was, why don't you go home then? The journalist came back and said,
05:14I have to stay until the final. Van Gaal said, I'll see you in the final.
05:19So, he's obviously feeling very confident that he can take them all the way. But you're right.
05:23There's, apart from today's first goal, 21-move passing goal was a tremendous first goal. The
05:29second was a carbon copy, in fact. It was a very similar goal. There's far more for them to come.
05:34But it looks like, you know, they're getting there. You know, we're seeing lots of signs of
05:38them playing the way we all know that they can play. It's certainly not total football,
05:42but they're advancing. They're in the quarter-finals. So, they'll be very pleased about
05:46that. Right, we've got two more matches to look forward to tomorrow, starting with France against
05:51Poland. Lewandowski against Mbappe. Satish, how do you feel that one's going to go tomorrow?
05:59It's going to be a tough game. But I think I will go with France, because they have been more…
06:08But it's a better team so far. When you look at them, they are more
06:12organised in the way they pass, the way they move and all. They are much better than…
06:18I'm not discounting the others, but they look very strong at this point of time.
06:23So, I would go with France in tomorrow's game.
06:26I think you're right, Satish. They have looked… Sham, they've looked really good, haven't they, so far?
06:32To me, France have been the best team on display so far. They have been very disciplined,
06:38very organised, very structured, very clinical, very professional. And they have the look of the
06:43champions. So, Poland, on the other hand, have been doing just enough. They have not been really,
06:50really impressive in that sense, but they have just been doing enough to win matches.
06:55And this is their first knockout game, let's say. And I don't think they don't stand much
07:00of a chance against France. Yeah, Poland have been looking far from
07:05exciting. They're a very workmanlike team. They're looking, obviously, to the strengths of
07:11Lewandowski. But I agree with you, too. I think France should be too strong for them.
07:14And the other one tomorrow I am very concerned about is Senegal taking on England. And honestly,
07:20guys, if England don't take this game seriously, if they don't give 100% effort, at least,
07:25and match the Senegal midfield, we could be overrun. And there could be a surprise tomorrow,
07:31as long as we play the way we can. And if Southgate gets his team selection absolutely
07:36right, this is the most important point. He has to play Foden. He's seen the damage he can do.
07:40And he has to play him on that left-hand side as well. He can't be playing him on the right
07:45and expecting him to cut in on his left and creating chances and taking shots at goal.
07:49With that in mind, Satish, how do you think England and Senegal are going to get on tomorrow?
07:53They have to just go back to the drawing board and look at the game and then say,
07:57OK, let's do the same thing. Because it's not something which it's difficult when you go back
08:02and analyse what you did right on those days. You can always go back and do that. I think that's
08:07a game that England need to play if they have to beat Senegal. Senegal could be a tricky team anyway.
08:15Yeah. Shyam, do you think we're seeing an upset tomorrow?
08:20No. I think that will be… I have a sneaky feeling this might go into finalities.
08:27Oh, God. Don't say that, Shyam. Please.
08:29I'm calling an England win, but it might be a penalty. But tomorrow's game will be won and lost
08:36in the midfield. That is for sure. Because we know Senegal can be very aggressive. They can do the
08:42running. So, you need to stop them. Which is where the English midfield is going to be very critical.
08:50And I just hope that Gareth Southgate stops experimenting. I hope he sticks on to the team
08:55from the last match. And I hope he sticks on to the team, the way they played in the second half
09:01of the last match. And I think if he does that, England can sneak a 1-0 win. Or like I said,
09:10if it goes into exo-time and penalties, they would be able to… I mean, this penalty, they will win.
09:18I think for the neutrals, we all love to see penalties. It's one of the most exciting things.
09:22But obviously, for the teams and players and the fans involved, it's painful. But I think the
09:27assessment about the midfield is absolutely right. Depending on the selection, that could hinge on
09:32the whole thing. The result could hinge on what Southgate does. The match could be won and lost
09:37before kick-off. So, we'll see. Right, well, I think we're all rushing off to watch Australia
09:41against Argentina now. So, that's all from us for tonight. In the meantime, head to golfnews.com
09:45for all the latest news and reviews. And head to our social media channels,
09:49for all our latest content and more. Thanks to the guys and we shall see you again tomorrow night.