DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The Netherlands is trying to make two statements in its opening World Cup sport on Monday in opposition to a Senegal staff that has to rapidly recover from the lack of ahead Sadio Mané.The primary is strictly about soccer and establishing the staff as a contender for the title in Qatar alongside the likes of top-ranked Brazil, defending champion France and Argentina. The Dutch have gained much less consideration within the buildup to the match after failing to qualify for the World Cup in Russia 4 years in the past, however arrive as one of many high groups in Europe.“I consider on this squad of gamers,” Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who’s again for a 3rd spell in cost, mentioned Sunday. “I feel we might turn out to be world champion.”The second assertion the Dutch need to make at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha facilities across the long-running criticism of the World Cup host nation’s legal guidelines and human rights document.The Dutch soccer federation is the chief of the “One Love” anti-discrimination motion and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk is anticipated to put on an armband with a multi-colored heart-shaped emblem in defiance of a FIFA order to maintain politics out of the World Cup.The “One Love” armbands are a criticism of Qatar’s legal guidelines criminalizing homosexuality. The England and Wales captains have mentioned that they will even ignore FIFA’s directive and put on them after they open their World Cup play on Monday.Amongst worldwide coaches, Van Gaal has been probably the most outspoken critics of letting the small however rich emirate host the World Cup, a choice which he has referred to as “ridiculous.” He toned down his criticism earlier this week in his first media convention in Qatar after which declined Sunday to reply any extra questions on “political points” on the World Cup.“I’m now not going to talk about political points. I’m specializing in this match,” Van Gaal mentioned. “And I’m asking all my gamers to try this and focus on the sport.”However whereas Van Gaal drew a line underneath his feedback on the politics, the Dutch soccer federation reiterated that Van Dijk will nonetheless put on the “One Love” armband in opposition to Senegal.The World Cup will possible be the final main teaching task for the 71-year-old Van Gaal, who introduced this yr he has prostate most cancers and has been receiving radiation therapy. He rated this squad as higher “on common” than the 2014 group he coached to the World Cup semifinals in Brazil.Netherlands has misplaced three World Cup finals — in 1974, 1978 and 2010 — and though there’s a protracted street forward in Qatar, the Group A sport in opposition to African champion Senegal is the largest early problem for the Dutch and a very good indicator of how far they may go. Host nation Qatar and Ecuador are the opposite groups in Group A.Netherlands is on a 15-match unbeaten run underneath Van Gaal however will certainly not begin with striker Memphis Depay in opposition to Senegal, Van Gaal mentioned. The Barcelona ahead needs to be out there later within the World Cup although.Senegal coach Aliou Cissé doesn’t have that choice for Mané, who was dominated out of the World Cup on Thursday with an harm. The 30-year-old Mané underwent surgical procedure for the best decrease leg harm he sustained in a league sport for Bayern Munich two weeks in the past, eradicating Senegal’s most potent attacking menace and the guts of the staff that received the African Cup of Nations in February for Senegal’s first main soccer title.“It’s an awesome disgrace for Sadio Mané and it’s a disgrace for the staff. And it’s an awesome problem for us,” Cissé mentioned. “All coaches construct their staff round its greatest participant. However we’ve a robust staff … and our standing as African champion offers us numerous confidence in our talents.”Mané’s absence additionally means no World Cup matchup with former Liverpool teammate Van Dijk, a defender who’s taking part in at his first World Cup on the age of 31. Van Dijk mentioned he phoned Mané the day after he was injured to console him.“I really feel unhappy for him,” Van Dijk mentioned. “I understand how onerous he works for this and he desires to be essential for Senegal and he has been essential the final couple of years. It’s robust.“Clearly he’s going to be an enormous miss for them … hopefully we are able to profit slightly bit from that.”___