The U.S. will face the Netherlands — who finished top of Group A — in the last 16 of the World Cup on Saturday after a 1-0 win over Iran on Tuesday secured Gregg Berhalter’s side the runners-up spot in Group B.
So what should they expect from the Dutch?
The Netherlands are in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the 11th time — not bad considering they have only played in the competition 11 times.
They didn’t qualify for 2018, but came third in their last World Cup appearance in 2014 — when they were also coached by Louis van Gaal.
Their top scorer in Qatar is Cody Gakpo with three goals.
The Dutch have three Premier League players in their squad — Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Manchester City’s Nathan Ake and Manchester United’s Tyrell Malacia.
The Netherlands and the U.S. have played five times before but never in a competitive game. Their last meeting was in Amsterdam in 2015 which the U.S. won 4-3 thanks to Bobby Wood’s injury-time strike.
The Athletic takes a look at how the Dutch play, who their danger men are, how they are likely to set up tactically and any areas of weakness that England or the U.S. could target.
The manager
The legendary Louis van Gaal is one of the most successful managers of the last three decades, winning a host of major honours with Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United while playing an attacking brand of football that often made his teams universally respected.
This is his third stint in charge of the Netherlands, after failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and then getting to within a penalty shootout of the final in 2014.
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The 71-year-old favours a 5-3-2 system that can seamlessly transition to 3-5-2 when his team are attacking.
Their key players so far
PSV Eindhoven’s Gakpo, 23, scored against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar in the group stage and is capable of playing both wide on the left wing and in a No 10 role.
Not only is he quick and skilful but he is also superb at shooting from long distance — highlighted by his fearsome shot from the edge of the box against Ecuador that gave the Dutch the lead. Gakpo has spoken in the past about how Ruud van Nistelrooy helped him perfect his finishing in the PSV academy.
His goal in the first game against Senegal was a header following a well-timed run, evidence that he is confident of finishing in a number of different ways.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Frenkie de Jong is a superb centre-midfielder and Van Gaal has described him as someone who can “gift the pass”. He is more than happy to drop deep if necessary and help link play from the back. De Jong’s quick thinking and superb decision-making under pressure allows the Dutch to move the ball up the pitch quickly and catch their opponents out on the counter.
Captain Virgil van Dijk is a colossus at the back and was instrumental in helping his side keep a clean sheet against Senegal in the first game.
How do they play?
They favour a high-pressing, expansive style of fluid football that allows for regular positional rotations. While they have set up so far in a changeable 5-3-2, they are not afraid to use a 4-3-3 or 3-4-1-2 if required.
While the Dutch are very capable of elaborate passing sequences, they are most threatening when attacking vertically — typically this means passes into Memphis Depay and Gakpo — and they keep their front two high when defending.
The Netherlands like to dominate possession, and have seen more of the ball than their opponents in every game so far at this World Cup. During their four Nations League fixtures in June they averaged 58 per cent possession.
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Out of possession, they press particularly intensely in wide areas, often going wing-back to opposition full-back in duels.
Strengths
The defensive options the Netherlands have at their disposal are truly remarkable. Van Dijk has been one of world’s best defenders in recent years, even if his form this season hasn’t lived up to his own standards. Then there are Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, and Inter’s Stefan de Vrij. The performances of Ake and Jurrien Timber (Ajax) have also been impressive over the last year.
And it’s not as if they’re understaffed at full-back. Blind (Ajax), Malacia and Denzel Dumfries (Inter) all have experience at the highest level.
Generally, the team has a very good mix of exciting young talent and big-match experience. Some of their top players, such as Van Dijk and Barcelona forward Depay are close to the peak of their careers.
Although not always sure of a starting spot at Camp Nou, Depay has really delivered for the Dutch team in recent years, and that form is reflected in his goals. He only needs nine more to break the country’s all-time goalscoring record, currently held by Robin van Persie (50).
Weaknesses
The team has long struggled to find a settled first-choice goalkeeper. So far in this World Cup they have opted for Heerenveen’s Andries Noppert — who, remarkably, was uncapped before the first group game.
It means that, despite the Netherland’s strong defence, they are still vulnerable at the back and are relying on an unproven rookie as the tournament enters crunch time.
Someone to watch out for
Wout Weghorst.
His physical style of play is more akin to that of a target man and offers the Dutch something different.
Weghorst featured in all his sides games at Euro 2020 and came on in the second group game in Qatar against Ecuador.
He facilitates more direct play and often occupies and distracts central defenders to pin the defensive line and create space for advanced midfielders and wing-backs.
If things aren’t going well for Van Gaal’s side they can easily change track and use Weghorst to open up opposition defences.
(Top photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)