After skipping out on 2018, the Netherlands is eager to make up for lost time and compete for their first World Cup title.
Since Louis van Gaal’s return to the helm in the summer of 2021, the team’s record is 11 wins, 4 draws, and no losses in 15 games.
They have a strong roster of veterans and promising youngsters, and they were given a favorable group stage draw. They should be able to make an impact in Qatar, as they did in Brazil eight years ago while led by the same manager.
A preview of the Dutch squad for the 2022 World Cup.
What times are the Netherlands’ group games?
A matchup between Senegal and the Netherlands (November 21, 16:00 GMT)
Matchup: The Netherlands take against Ecuador (November 25, 16:00 GMT)
Matchup: Netherlands vs. Qatar (November 29, 15:00 GMT)
Holland takes on Senegal Head-to-Head record: 0 games
Played once, drew once: that’s the head-to-head record between the Netherlands and Ecuador.
H2H matchup stats between the Netherlands and Qatar: 0/0
Qatar Key players, injuries, strategies, and our forecast for the 2022 World Cup.
Key players, injuries, strategies, and our forecast for Ecuador at the 2022 World Cup.
Senegal Key players, injuries, strategies, and our forecast for the 2022 World Cup.
The Netherlands has officially announced their World Cup roster of 26 players.
Remko Pasveer (Twente), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), and Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord) are the teams’ goalkeepers (Ajax)
Back four: Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Manchester United), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), and Stefan de Vrij (Manchester City) (Inter)
The Ajax midfielders Steven Berghuis, Frenkie de Jong, Davy Klaassen, Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners, Marten de Roon, Xavi Simons, and Kenneth Taylor, among others (Ajax)
All of Ajax’s Steven Bergwijn, PSV’s Cody Gakpo, Antwerp’s Vincent Jansson, PSV’s Luuk de Jong, Club Brugge’s Noa Lang, Barcelona’s Memphis Depay, and Wout Weghorst, and PSV’s Luuk de Jong and Noa Lang (Besiktas)
Which Dutch players will be unable to compete because of injuries?
Because to a shin injury he sustained at the beginning of the season, Georginio Wijnaldum will not be able to participate in his second World Cup.
While Matthijs de Ligt and Memphis Depay have been sidelined by injury, they are expected to make a complete recovery and rejoin Van Gaal’s available roster.
Which athletes represent the Netherlands most notably?
Gakpo Cody
It’s common knowledge that Cody Gakpo is the one to watch. William James Williamson Image Credit: AMA/Getty Images
The Incomparable Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo will be the center of attention in Qatar. In light of his 13 goals and 17 assists for PSV this season, he has caught the attention of the greatest clubs in the world ahead of the January transfer window, and a strong showing at the World Cup would almost certainly guarantee a move to one of them.
Gakpo, who is developing into his role as the team’s number 10, has a good chance of having a successful tournament.
Depay, Memphis
Memphis Depay has long been his country’s most important player, being the team’s go-to scorer and provider with 34 goals and 23 assists in 47 appearances for the national team.
If healthy, he’ll be the Netherlands’ strongest danger and a vast improvement over the version who floundered at Manchester United.
A Frenkie de Jong
No matter what happens to Frenkie de Jong at Barcelona in the second half of this season, he will still be Van Gaal’s most important player for Oranje. However, the midfielder’s strong play so far this year has helped him get into Xavi’s plans.
The 25-year-old exudes calmness, which is essential in competitive football.
Van Dijk, Virgil
While Virgil van Dijk has had a rough season on the club level, the Netherlands captain has looked great in orange leading up to his first World Cup.
Van Gaal’s defensive strategies are a fantastic fit for Van Dijk, and here is the perfect chance for him to prove his early-season Liverpool doubters wrong.
Lineup for the Netherlands’ opening game
Van Gaal has used the same 3-4-1-2 formation since returning to the Dutch position, and he has a good idea of who will start at the World Cup.
However, De Jong’s central midfield partner and starting goalkeeper are also up in the air.
Bijlow; Timber; Van Dijk; Ake; Dumfries; Berghuis; De Jong; Blind; Gakpo; Bergwijn; Memphis; are the probable starting XI for the Netherlands.
The current state of the Netherlands’ performance heading into the World Cup
Van Gaal utilized this year’s UEFA Nations League games as a testing ground for a rotating cast of young players, and the Netherlands finished first in their group with five victories and a tie; the 4-1 victory against Belgium being the highlight.
They opened the season with a 4-2 victory over Denmark and a 1-1 draw against Germany in March.
Latest five Dutch results
With a score of Wales 1, Netherlands 2,
Score: Netherlands, 2–2 Poland
The Netherlands win, 4-2. Wales
Poland loses with a score of 0-2 Belgium 0 – 1 Netherlands
Predict the Netherlands’ final World Cup position.
As they enter the World Cup, the Netherlands boast their strongest team in years and probably their finest manager ever.
Expected to face Argentina in the quarterfinals and Brazil in the semis if they can get through the team who eliminated them in 2014, these two teams are among the few that may potentially be in better form than the United States.
It’s possible that this Dutch team might be able to take down one of the South American powerhouses, but beating both could be asking too much.
