The Netherlands, who did not participate in the 2018 World Cup, are back this year with the goal of winning the tournament for the first time.
Since Louis van Gaal took over during the summer of 2021, the squad has been revitalised, having won 11 and drawing 4 of their 15 games.
Netherlands appear poised to leave their mark in Qatar, just as they did in Brazil with the same manager just eight years ago, thanks to a squad full of recognisable faces and exciting newcomers, as well as a group stage draw that is tad kind to them.
Netherlands confirmed squad for the World Cup
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow, Andries Noppert, Remko Pasveer
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij, Nathan Ake, Daley Blind, Denzel Dumfries, Jeremie Frimpong, Tyrell Malacia, Jurrien Timber
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong, Steven Berghuis, Davy Klaassen, Teun Koopmeiners, Xavi Simons, Marten de Roon, Kenneth Taylor
Forwards: Cody Gakpo, Steven Bergwijn, Luuk de Jong, Vincent Jansson, Noa Lang, Memphis Depay, Wout Weghorst
Georginio Wijnaldum was unable to participate in his second World Cup because of a shin fracture he sustained at the beginning of the season. Aside from that, Van Gaal is able to select from a fully healthy squad; Memphis Depay and Matthijs de Ligt have recently struggled with injuries but should both make a full recovery.
Players to watch
Virgil van Dijk
Even though Virgil van Dijk has had difficulties at his club this year, the Netherlands captain has looked superb in orange in the lead-up to his first World Cup. Van Gaal’s strategies are a perfect match for Van Dijk’s defensive aptitudes, and this is the ideal chance for him to assuage some of his Liverpool detractors from early in the season.
Memphis Depay
Memphis Depay, who has scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists during his last 47 international matches, has long served as his country’s talisman. If healthy, he will be the Netherlands’ greatest threat because he is a much better player than the one who struggled at Manchester United.
Cody Gakpo
Everybody in Qatar will be watching Cody Gakpo. The world’s top clubs have expressed interest in him ahead of the January transfer window due to his 13 goals and 17 assists for PSV this season. An outstanding World Cup would almost certainly result in a move to one of them. Gakpo might have a significant tournament as he develops into his position as the team’s number 10.
Frenkie de Jong
Regardless of how Frenkie de Jong’s situation at Barcelona played out in the first half of this season, he was going to be Van Gaal’s most crucial player. However, now that the midfielder has pushed his way into Xavi’s plans with strong performances, it is even more likely that he will be in charge for the Netherlands. In tournament football, composure is essential, and the 25-year-old exudes it.
Van Gaal experimented and evaluated a variety of players during this year’s Nations League matches, but he still managed to secure strong results. The Netherlands finished first in their group with five victories and a draw, with the standout performance being a 4-1 victory in Belgium. Prior to that, they tied 1-1 with Germany in March after defeating Denmark 4-2.
The Netherlands enter the World Cup in better shape than most of the other major nations, with their strongest team in years and perhaps their best manager ever.
However, if everything goes as planned, they might encounter the only two who are in better condition than they are. If they can defeat the team that eliminated them in 2014, they will play Argentina in the quarterfinals and Brazil in the finals. This is a very strong Dutch team, perhaps strong enough to defeat one of the South American powerhouses, but it may be too difficult to defeat both of them.
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