Netherlands vs. USA: Two young teams go head-to-head for a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals
USA goalkeeper Matt Turner celebrates after defeating Iran to advance to the round of 16 at Al Thumama Stadium.
Saturday’s Round of 16 matchup between the USA and the Netherlands is one of the most intriguing matchups of the Qatar 2022 first knockout round.
Although bookmakers have the Netherlands as the favourite, this matchup is certainly closer than that and both teams will feel confident that they can book a place in the quarterfinals.
The USMNT gave England real problems in their group game and probably came away from that game more disappointed with a 0-0 draw, while a solid win over Iran in a high-stakes match in which the winner takes it all proved that Gregg Berhalter’s men can perform under intense pressure.
With the Netherlands sitting eighth in the FIFA world rankings, eight places above the USA, and world-renowned talents like Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay, the match of the Saturday will be difficult for the United States.
Can Berhalter’s men reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002? CNN Sports take a look.
“Anything can happen”
The performance against Iran, a tough but deserved 1-0 win, will have been incredibly enjoyable for Berhalter, particularly as it came against a backdrop of much tension off the pitch in the build-up.
Berhalter and captain Tyler Adams faced some tough questions from Iranian journalists at a pre-game news conference, dodging accusations of hypocrisy and disrespect.
The fact that his team was able to focus and deliver when it mattered most will give Berhalter and the US fans a great deal of confidence heading into Saturday’s game.
“From here, anything can happen,” Berhalter said before the game. “It’s a great opportunity, but it’s not something we’re going to think of as an honor. We deserve to be in the position we are in and we want to keep it that way.”
While Pulisic is undoubtedly the star of the USMNT, Captain Adams has been the engine and heartbeat of the team.
The Leeds midfielder has shown poise both on and off the pitch, receiving praise for his composure and eloquence in answering such questions from Iranian journalists.
Berhalter, whose team has yet to concede a goal in open play at this World Cup, praised his “general” after the victory against Iran.
“Tyler fits a very specific role,” Berhalter said. “He is the general, he is the strategist. He’s the guy who goes out and walks the talk. When he talks, people listen.”
the opponent
If the US can perform as they did against England and for much of the game against Iran, a place in the first World Cup quarterfinals since 2002 could be possible.
The USMNT will feel confident against the Netherlands team that didn’t make it in Qatar.
Louis van Gaal’s side have failed to impress so far, picking up a late win against Senegal thanks to two goalkeeping errors by Édouard Mendy and scoring just one point against Ecuador in a game they were lucky not to lose.
The team’s 2-0 win over Qatar was a more convincing performance, but even that comes with the caveat that the Qataris are bad guys in this tournament.
The key threat from the Netherlands
Netherlands defender #17 Daley Blind congratulates his teammate #08 Cody Gakpo for scoring his team’s first goal during the World Cup Qatar 2022. (Photo by RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images)
The Netherlands managed just eight shots on goal in their three group stage matches but netted five goals, largely thanks to young star Cody Gakpo.
The 23-year-old is likely to have increased his transfer value considerably in this tournament to the delight of club PSV Eindhoven, scoring all three of his goals with his right foot, left foot and head to lead the race for the golden boot of the 2022 World Cup together with Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Rashford, Álvaro Morata and Enner Valencia.
Reports suggest Manchester United are among the clubs already looking to sign Gakpo after the World Cup and van Dijk said the winger’s potential could take him “to the moon and back”.
“He’s a very good player and a good boy too,” said the Liverpool defender. “What we see in training is what you see on the pitch. There is still a lot of potential and I hope he can continue to show it to us. We are very happy with him,” he said.
Van Gaal added: “Things can change, but Cody has what it takes to become a star. He has a wonderful personality to become a star player because he is open-minded to anything.”
This team battled against an athletic team from Ecuador, a threat that the USA will also pose, and the Netherlands will need Gakpo at his best, along with van Dijk and midfielder de Jong, to overcome a tough test in the Americans.
