The Dutch national team will face the last hurdle in the group stage of the World Cup on Tuesday. Qatar will have to win to secure group profit, and preferably by large numbers. National coach Louis van Gaal takes up that challenge according to it General Journal with several new names on the starting form. For example, Marten de Roon can prepare for his first basic place and Steven Bergwijn surprisingly loses his place to Vincent Janssen. Memphis Depay also appears at the kick-off, as is known.
After a difficult 0-2 victory over Senegal, the Netherlands was very lucky with a 1-1 against Ecuador. The the Dutch hardly created any chances against the South Americans, and the game before that also proved that the successful formation has not yet been found by Van Gaal. That is why the choice king decides to move his pawns again. Especially the composition of the front five is subject to change. Janssen and Depay form the striker duo, which was formed on Friday by Bergwijn and Cody Gakpo. The latter is now, just like in the opening game, behind the strikers.
The block in midfield is formed by Frenkie de Jong and De Roon. Van Gaal has not yet found the ideal puzzle piece for his star, as both Steven Berghuis and Teun Koopmeiners have not yet managed to impress this tournament. De Roon now gets the chance to show himself. “What needs to be improved is the game on the ball, but it is also a bit of aggression. That pressure has to be done higher up the field,” Van Gaal said about the game against Ecuador last weekend. This observation is probably the basis for the choice for De Roon.
Van Gaal remains confident in his back six. That means that Andries Noppert can prepare for his third international match and that Daley Blind, Nathan Aké, Virgil van Dijk, Jurriën Timber and Denzel Dumfries (left to right) form the defense. All in all, Xavi Simons seems to have to settle for a substitute. Van Gaal hinted at playing time for the season revelation during the press conference on Monday. “I said to Xavi Simons that he could take the next step. I see that he is developing as a player, that he is trying to do what we want him to do,” said the national coach.
The opponent
For Qatar, it is still a World Cup debut to forget. The opening game against Ecuador was lost 0-2 without a chance, while Senegal was also a size too big with 1-3. The Netherlands – as number eight in the world and the highest ranked country in the FIFA ranking – will instill no less fear in Qatar. The duel will mainly be about honors for the global number fifty, as the country has already been eliminated.
National coach Félix Sánchez said at the press conference on Monday that he hoped for a ‘worthy farewell’. “We are going to try to resist, but let’s also enjoy it. It is a great honor to be here. Hopefully we can close the World Cup with dignity.” The game in the Al Bayt stadium will be kicked off at 4 p.m. and will be led by the Gambian Bakary Gassama. With a victory, the Netherlands takes seven points and only Ecuador can climb over Van Gaal and co. For that, however, the South Americans must win from Senegal by at least three goals. In that case it would come down to the Fair Play standings.
Probable line-up in the Netherlands: Noppert; Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk (c), Ake, Blind; De Roon, F. De Jong; Gakpo; Jansen, Memphis
Probable line-up Qatar: Barsham; Mohammad, Ro-Ro, Khoukhi, Hassan, Ahmed; Boudiaf, Al-Haydos (c); Ali, Madibo, Afif