They are using the Dutch route.
After the anxiety of two tournament-opening draws and the excitement of a dramatic 1-0 victory over Iran on Tuesday, the United States has reached the Round of 16 and will face the Netherlands, as many pre-World Cup forecasts predicted.
Saturday’s matchup between the Red, White, and Blue and the Oranje is almost a foregone conclusion. After then, things may become more intriguing.
Tim Weah stated, “I usually say it’s us versus the world.” “Because no one thought that the United States could play decent football, and we’re here to prove everyone wrong…. I’m ecstatic that we’ve advanced to the next round, and it’s a lovely day.”
This is not your uncle’s Netherlands team, which popularized total football, or even the squad that finished third at the 2014 World Cup under current manager Louis van Gaal — like the United States, it did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup and was eliminated in the Round of 16 at the Euros last summer. It resembles the transitioning Belgium squad that the United States lost to 2-1 in extra time in the round of 16 in 2014.
Cody Gakpo scores a goal during the Netherlands’ 2-0 World Cup victory against host country Qatar.
AFP Images via Getty
The Dutch topped Group A with a record of two victories, one tie, and a goal differential of 5-1, but their underlying statistics are less than impressive. Over the course of the three games, they were outshot 35-25, including 11-8 in shots on goal, and were credited with only 2.3 anticipated goals while their opponents had a total of 2.7.
Cody Gakpo, 23, will be transferred from PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands to one of Europe’s major clubs in the near future. The Dutch attacker has been the tournament’s breakout hero, scoring three spectacular goals accompanied by imagined cash register noises. The formidable Virgil van Dijk leads the defense, while Frenkie de Jong plays a pivotal role in midfield.
If the United States defeats the Netherlands, they will face either the Group C champion or the Group D runner-up in the quarterfinals on December 9.
Argentina was penciled in as a big favorite in Group C, but they’ve stumbled so badly that they’re in risk of elimination on Wednesday and almost surely will end in second place.
If Argentina is eliminated or travels to the opposite side of the bracket as the “2C” team, the United States would face Poland, Denmark, Australia, or possibly Saudi Arabia for a position in the quarterfinals. Even in a handful of these contests, the United States would be favored.
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