Eight years after taking the Netherlands to the semi-finals in Brazil, Louis van Gaal is again for an additional shot at bringing house his nation’s first World Cup title.
Van Gaal’s tactical skill and management will probably be important for a staff that failed to achieve the quarter-finals eventually 12 months’s European Championship beneath his predecessor, Frank de Boer.
The Netherlands, 3 times a World Cup runner-up, are in Group A with host Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal.
The staff is unbeaten in 15 matches because the 71-year-old Van Gaal took over for the third time after De Boer stop, twice beating Belgium on their method to qualifying for the Closing 4 of the Nations League.
Van Gaal’s success in steering the Dutch staff out of the doldrums comes regardless of him revealing in April that he was being handled for an aggressive type of prostate most cancers.
The 71-year-old coach brings a wealth of expertise, having led a younger Ajax staff to Champions League victory in 1995 and managed main golf equipment together with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
The defining second of Van Gaal’s storied teaching profession was his name to carry on reserve goalkeeper Tim Krul within the final minute of additional time within the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals towards Costa Rica with the rating at 0-0.
Krul saved two penalties in a 4-3 shootout victory that despatched the Netherlands to the semifinals. The Dutch staff then misplaced to Argentina on penalties within the subsequent match, with Jasper Cillessen in aim.
Van Gaal has been outspoken in criticizing Qatar as host of the match, calling it a “ridiculous” resolution motivated by industrial pursuits.
Keeper conundrum
Regardless of his 2014 heroics, Krul didn’t make the lower for Qatar. The 33-year-old Cillessen, now enjoying for Dutch membership NEC Nijmegen after spells with Ajax, Barcelona and Valencia, additionally didn’t make the squad.
Goalkeeper choices for the Dutch now embrace 38-year-old Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer, Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow and Herenvven’s Andries Noppert.
Whereas Van Gaal seems to have the contours of his beginning staff largely labored out, it stays unclear who his beginning goalkeeper will probably be.
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Formation
The controversy rages amongst Dutch followers at each main match about whether or not or not the Netherlands will play their most well-liked formation of 4 defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.
Abandoning that 4-3-3 setup was a part of the explanation that De Boer fell out of favor at Euro 2020, however don’t count on Van Gaal to right away soar again to the system that’s drummed into Dutch soccer gamers from the youngest youth squads proper as much as the Ajax staff.
Van Gaal has been coaching this 12 months a system with three defenders, 4 midfielders, two forwards and a participant floating simply behind the forwards. He says it means “that an opponent all the time has to adapt.”
However Van Gaal will hold opposing groups guessing in Qatar and is all the time ready to alter the best way his staff units up — even throughout matches.
What system he makes use of on any given day “is dependent upon the qualities of the opponent,” he advised Dutch broadcaster NOS.
Memphis
Memphis Depay was one of many break-out stars of the World Cup in Brazil. As of late, he’s most frequently seen on Barcelona’s bench watching Robert Lewandowski at work.
Van Gaal has up to now mentioned he solely selects gamers who’re enjoying common membership soccer. He’ll make an exception for Depay, who’s effectively on his method to turning into the Netherlands’ all-time prime scorer.
Depay’s final aim, towards Wales in June, took his worldwide tally to 42, stage in second place on the listing with Klaas Jan Huntelaar. Robin van Persie is alone on prime with 50 targets.
“It’s all the time essential to play … and I’ve executed loads much less of that lately,” Depay advised NOS in September.
However the ever-confident striker mentioned he’s in little question he will probably be prepared in time for the Netherlands’ first match towards Senegal on 21 November.
“I give all the pieces in coaching to indicate that I belong right here,” Depay mentioned, “and may be essential for my nation.”
Netherlands World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow, Andries Noppert, Remko Pasveer
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Daley Blind, Jurrien Timber, Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij, Matthijs de Ligt, Tyrell Malacia, Jeremie Frimpong.
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong, Steven Berghuis, Davy Klaassen, Teun Koopmeiners, Marten de Roon, Cody Gakpo, Kenneth Taylor, Xavi Simons.
Forwards: Memphis Depay, Steven Bergwijn, Vincent Janssen, Luuk de Jong, Noa Lang, Wout Weghorst.
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