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Santiago Leon and Hal Phillips, author of Generation Zero book, recaps the NED vs USA World Cup match.
Buy Generation Zero book: https://amzn.to/3XRQGjW
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Hal Phillips – @mandarinhal
This time, the end came against the Netherlands, which rode a pair of first-half goals to a 3-1 victory in Saturday’s round of 16 match at Khalifa International Stadium.
Memphis Depay and Daley Blind scored early, and Denzel Dumfries added one late for the Dutch. Haji Wright briefly pulled the Americans within one shortly before Dumfries’ back-breaking strike, but that was as close as we got.
The Netherlands will take on either Argentina or Australia — who meet later on Saturday — next Friday in the first quarterfinal match.
NED scores 3-1
Goal by Denzel Dumfries. Daley Blind’s precise cross from the left with a controlled volley on the opposite side of the box, Dumfries finds the bottom-left corner of Turner’s goal!
USA Scores 2-1
A first-time throughball by Yedlin – just on as a substitute – plays in Pulisic on the right, and his cutback from the byline loops up off Wright and spins over Noppert into the back of the net! Netherlands 2-1 USA, and there’s all to play for now!
NED Scores 2-0
DOUBLE DUTCH DELIGHT! Outwitting his marker on the right byline, following a throw-in, Dumfries unlocks the States’ defence once again. The wing-back cuts the ball back for Blind – chasing in from the opposite flank – who slots the ball into the bottom corner for his side’s second goal! Just before the break, it’s Netherlands 2-0 USA!!
NED Scores 1-0
A brilliant sweeping move of one-touch passing and movement puts the Netherlands in front! At the end of a rhythmic passing sequence which slices through the US defence, Depay receives the ball from Dumfries on the edge of the area and buries it in the bottom-left corner! What a beauty! Netherlands 1-0 USA!
Lineup
USA – Turner, Dest, Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson, Adams, Musah, McKennie, Weah, Ferreira, Pulisic
Ferreira starts on top, Zimmerman back in defense
NED – Noppert, Timber, van Dijk, Ake, deRoon, Blind, de Jong, Dumfries, Klaassen, Gakpo, Depay
An impressively clinical performance from the Netherlands sees them through to the last eight of Qatar 2022, as they swat aside the challenge of a high-energy USA team. Soaking up some pressure at times, the Oranje used all of their experience – and that of their celebrated coach – to take advantage of the States’ naivety and score three times, with the irrepressible Dumfries involved on each occasion. The first was a fluid footballing moment reminiscent of their famed Total Football, and though they were briefly tested by conceding a second-half goal, Van Gaal’s men deservedly take their place in the quarter-finals.
What does the US need to improve for 2026?
Do we need a striker?
PREDICTIONS
ARG-AUS
HP: ARG
FRA-POL
HP: FRA
ENG-SEN
HP: ENG