Cody Gakpo, the Oranje in a hurry who almost single-handedly led the Netherlands to the round of 16 of the World Cup with his three goals, will be expected on Saturday 3 December by the solid United States rearguard, who conceded only one goal – from a penalty – to 1is tours.
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| World Cup 2022: Netherlands – USA. |
| Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN |
“I’m proud of him, but he has to go on because now is when the tournament really starts”Denzel Dumfries slipped, after the victory of the Dutch against Qatar (2-0), at the end of a group stage without stories but without brilliance.
In a qualified walking team, Gakpo stood out for his acceleration and his success in front of goal: with a header against the Senegal Lions (2-0), with a left foot against Ecuador (1-1) and with a forehand against the Qatar.
He scores in three consecutive World Cup matches, only three other Dutchmen had done before him, and not just any one: Johan Neeskens (1974), Dennis Bergkamp (1994) and Wesley Sneijder (2010).
The PSV Eindhoven striker confirmed on the Qatari pitches what he has been doing since the start of the season on the Dutch pitches, where he is both the current top scorer (nine goals) and the best passer (12) in the league.
“When you score three goals, you are obviously very important to the team. But he shows how excellent he is not only with his goals but also with his game”his teammate Marten de Roon told AFP.
Do not “A surprise”
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| Young Dutch striker Cody Gakpo scores against Qatar in group A of the World Cup in Al Khor on 29 November. |
| Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN |
“A surprise? No, he was already a good player. With us he plays a little further up. At PSV he plays a little lower down and on the left wing but he has exceptional qualities and we knew he could do it”adds the Atalanta Bergamo midfielder.
Enough to up the ante around the young 23-year-old, under contract until 2026 with PSV, his training club.
The interested party, regularly questioned by the press on the interest of clubs such as Manchester United, remains for the moment “concentrate” on Qatar with the“objective” claimed to be “World Champion”.
The Netherlands are still expected to pick up the pace after frequently favoring management over offensive risk-taking during the first round. Because, beyond the flashes of Gakpo, Oranje lacked variety and impact. Particularly due to the lack of pace of their top scorer Memphis Depay, who arrived in Qatar without a single game in his legs for two months in Barcelona.
Coach Louis van Gaal, who took the Netherlands to the semi-finals eight years ago, remains impervious to criticism of this hitherto minimalist style: “In 2014 it was the same thing, the press was very negative. I’m used to it, and so are the players”he evacuated on Friday at a news conference.
Of the “hero” pay 2026
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| The Americans train in Doha on November 28. |
| Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN |
His Oranje are expected from a US team with physical play, which has shown good dispositions to neutralize the opponents.
Solid and disciplined block, Team USA are undefeated (one win, two draws) and have conceded only one goal, from a penalty, against Wales (1-1). Above all, they were the only team to stand up to England’s fine attacking army (0-0).
Four years after a World Cup organized on their territory, with Canada and Mexico, the Americans have shown constant progress to validate their qualification against Iran (1-0), with a team made up of eleven starters playing in Europe, between including Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie and Chelsea striker Christian Pulisic.
The forward of the “Blues”, hit in the pelvis against Iran, has assured that he will “everything in his power” be on the field on Saturday 3 December.
The United States can reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002, their best result, a nice way to talk about “soccer” ahead of 2026: “The support from the United States is incredible, it’s really nice to see how a tournament can change the perspective on the football public”US Captain Tyler Adams smiled on Friday, December 2.
“It was one of our goals in this tournament, we want the next generations to benefit from this support.”
AFP/VNA/CVN
