Qatar 2022 | Know the favourites: Van Gaal’s Netherlands on comeback trail

Qatar 2022, know your favourites: The Netherlands

Having failed to qualify for the previous Fifa World Cup, the Netherlands have been on the comeback trail under the guidance of a familiar face in Louis van Gaal.

The man nicknamed the “Iron Tulip”, who is into his third stint as manager, led the Flying Dutchmen back to the big time after a eight-year absence. The Netherlands defeated Norway 2-0 in their final qualifier and topped the group standings.

After finishing as runners-up in South Africa in 2010, Dutch football spent nigh on a decade at a crossroads. Since Bert van Marwijk left the team in 2012 after four years at the helm, the Dutch have been through eight managers in 10 years. The players looked lost in playing identity and bereft of confidence.

Van Gaal may not be everyone’s cup of tea because of his direct methods and often blunt way of delivering his message, but there is no denying the 71-year-old’s pragmatic approach has reignited Dutch football. The ex-Manchester United manager, who has endured 25 radiation treatments for prostate cancer, which is now said to be in remission, has built the spine of a side that comprises goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, centreback Virgil van Dijk, midfielder Frenkie de Jong and ace forward Memphis Depay.

Of the Dutch DNA, talisman and skipper Van Dijk has said: “We always want to have the ball, we all want to play football, attack and score. But football is also knowing how to defend.”

Defence has often proved to be Oranje’s achilles heel and much will be expected of the man who has been playing for Liverpool, Van Dijk — who kept Erling Haaland at bay — since joining from Southampton in 2018. In Bayern Munich-based Matthijs de Ligt, Van Dijk has a trusty central defensive partner who can help him marshall the backline.

Upfront, the Dutch are renowned for their pace, ability to get behind defences and unlock the last line. Their success in Qatar will hinge on whether they can find the right blend between attack and defence. Barcelona’s Depay, who has been playing in La Liga since 2021, has scored an impressive 21 goals in his past 22 international matches.

PSV Eindhoven’s 23-year-old left-wing Cody Gakpo has come through the age-grade system and made his senior international debut in 2021 at the European Championships. The forward has taken to the game’s biggest stage like a duck to water. Gakpo uses his dribbling skills, crossing ability and counterattacking threat to devastating effect. A dominant World Cup showing could see Gakpo earn a dream move to the English Premier League, with links to Manchester United.

The Netherlands are in Group A with hosts Qatar, Senegal and Ecuador. The former are expected to win the group but Ecuador, ranked 12th in the world, could be a threat.

Previous World Cup performance: Runners-up; 1974, 1978 and 2010; third-place 1998; 2014 quarterfinals 1994; last-16 1934, 1938, 1990, 2006

Key players: Virgil van Dijk (defender, Liverpool) Frenkie de Jong (midfielder, Barcelona) Memphis Depay (forward, Barcelona) Cody Gakpo (winger, PSV)

Coach: Louis van Gaal

Current ranking: 8

Group A: Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador, Qatar

Predicted finish in 2022: Quarterfinalists

* The 2022 Fifa World Cup kicks off in Qatar on November 20 and the final is on December 18. TimesLIVE and TimesLIVE Premium will profile all eight groups, the tournament favourites, star players and five African teams over the coming weeks.