The Netherlands face the USA in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. So, HITC Football has looked into who would join Cody Gakpo and Christian Pulisic in a combined XI.
Oranje booked their place in the knockout stages after topping Group A in Louis Van Gaal’s farewell tour. The 71-year-old announced his retirement in 2019 but he returned in August 2021 to guide their Qatar 2022. Ronald Koeman will replace Van Gaal after the World Cup.
Gakpo helped Van Gaal’s side kick their Group A efforts off with a 2-0 win over Senegal. He is Oranje’s top-scorer with three goals after also netting in their 1-1 draw with Ecuador and 2-0 win over Qatar. Davy Klaassen and Frenkie de Jong registered the Dutch’s other strikes.
The USA now await the Netherlands in the last 16 this Saturday, December 3, at the Khalifa International Stadium. Gregg Berhalter’s side followed England out of Group B as runners-up after drawing 1-1 with Wales and 0-0 against the Three Lions before they beat Iran 1-0.
Timothy Weah and Pulisic offered the Stars and Stripes’ two goals in fixtures against Wales and Iran. The latter also assisted the former to break the deadlock over Cymru after ending a surging run with a perfectly weighted pass. Pulisic later bundled his goal in against Iran.
The Netherlands and the USA are set to meet at a World Cup for the first time
The Qatar World Cup has now thrown up the sixth game between the Netherlands and the USA across all competitions. The Stars and Stripes won the last match between the nations in 2015 for their only victory so far. Oranje have triumphed in four of their clashes to date.
All five of their previous meetings since first facing each other in February 1998 have been in international friendlies. Never before their Round of 16 meeting at Qatar 2022 have the USA and the Netherlands met at a World Cup. Only one fixture has also featured just one goal.
Berhalter will hope to see Matt Turner now record the USA’s first-ever clean sheet against the Netherlands at the Khalifa International Stadium. Oranje shut the Stars and Stripes out in their first three meetings. The last match between the two nations saw the USA win 4-3.
So, ahead of just the sixth-ever game between the Netherlands and the USA and the first at a World Cup, HITC Football looks at who would join Gakpo and Pulisic in a combined XI…
Matt Turner (GK): Berhalter backed the Arsenal ace in the USA XI during Group B
Berhalter started Turner in the USA’s three Group B ties that secured a Round of 16 match with the Netherlands. The Arsenal star did superbly well to tip Ben Davies’ looping header over his bar against Wales. He also got down quickly to keep out England’s Mason Mount.
Sergino Dest (RB): The USMNT star helped inspire their 1-0 win over Iran
Sergino Dest helped to inspire the USA’s 1-0 win over Iran after Pulisic bundled his header in to win. The full-back has also offered Berhalter an ever-energetic presence on the right-hand side. His surging runs up the wing have played an instrumental role in their efforts.
Virgil van Dijk (CB): The Liverpool star is marshalling the Netherlands XI in Qatar
Virgil van Dijk is living up to his role as the Netherlands’ captain by marshalling Van Gaal’s squad in Qatar. The Liverpool defender has not been tested defensively all too often. But he has been a threat from set-pieces at the other end of the pitch and could have scored.
Tim Ream (CB): A consistently strong presence at the back under Berhalter
Tim Ream has been a consistently strong presence at the back under Berhalter in Qatar so far. He anchored the USA’s defence in all three of their Group B fixtures at a commendable level. Each passing game has also helped the Fulham defender build his confidence further.
Antonee Robinson (LB): The Fulham dynamo has helped balance the USA side
Antonee Robinson has helped Berhalter bring balance to the USA side with Dest attacking from the right of the defence. The Fulham full-back has contributed to his fair share of the Stars and Stripes’ forays forward. He especially stood out against England’s pressing game.
Yunus Musah (CM): The unpredictable 20-year-old is unlocking World Cup sides
Yunus Musah is only 20 years old yet made his USA bow in November 2020 and boasts 21 caps already. The Valencia gem has started each of his appearances, as well, with the last three at Qatar 2022. He has proven to be an unpredictable force able to unlock defences.
Tyler Adams (CM): The anchor that allows Musah and McKennie to maraud
Leeds United’s Tyler Adams was the anchor that let Musah and Weston McKennie maraud forward in Qatar. His work screening the backline was vital to Berhalter’s squad qualifying for the knockouts. The £20m midfielder has also pushed on to help them press higher up.
Frenkie de Jong (CM): He found the key to unlocking Senegal in the Netherlands’ win
De Jong found the key to unlock Senegal in the Netherlands’ opening tie when Gakpo met his cross to score. The Barcelona ace was already acting as the metronome setting Oranje’s tone. He has continued to be central for Van Gaal and poked home to net against Ecuador.
Davy Klaassen (CAM): The Ajax midfielder took his chance and has kept going
Davy Klaassen started the World Cup on the bench but showed Van Gaal what he can give the Netherlands against Senegal. The Ajax midfielder scored during his 11 minutes off the bench. He has since provided assists against Ecuador and Qatar after starting both games.
Cody Gakpo (ST): The USA will have to try and control the Netherlands’ star man
Berhalter will know going into the Round of 16 that his USA XI must control Gakpo to beat the Netherlands. The PSV Eindhoven forward has been Van Gaal’s star man with his three goals so far. He has brought light to dim spells with Oranje not always a dominating squad.
Christian Pulisic (ST): Berhalter will be sweating over the USA star’s injury
Berhalter and the whole of the USA will be fearing an injury for Pulisic before their Round of 16 tie with the Netherlands. USMNT chiefs took the Chelsea forward to hospital during the Iran match to assess the pelvic contusion he sustained whilst scoring their winning goal.
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