Netherlands at FIFA World Cup 2022: Squad analysis, starting XI, formation

The autumn for the Netherlands was sudden and steep. After making the ultimate in South Africa and ending fourth in Brazil, Oranje shockingly missed the minimize for the 2016 Euros and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The rebuild, nonetheless, has been accomplished, because the Dutch returned to the Euros final 12 months, and ultimately booked a ticket to Qatar.

Louis Van Gaal was handed a 3rd stint as supervisor following Frank De Boer’s sacking publish the Euros exit to the Czech Republic. Beneath him, the crew has been in good kind within the lead-up to the quadrennial match. It superior to the semifinals of the UEFA Nations League, beating Belgium, Poland and Wales on its method.

Because of the high-press, complete soccer – the age-old techniques the Dutch are famend for – Van Gaal’s crew has registered a 15-game unbeaten streak.

As groups like Argentina and Brazil hog the limelight to return to the cup, Van Gaal’s crew has gone beneath the radar and might be termed because the potential darkish horse this 12 months.

Formation

Van Gaal performs with a 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation, emphasising effectively attacking areas, taking part in between the traces and constructing play by retaining possession.

Goalkeepers

Maybe the one weak point for the Dutch heading to Qatar is their custodian. The crew has not fairly been in a position to quiet down on its primary. A giant cause for that’s the dip in Jasper Cillisen’s kind – the crew’s long-standing goalkeeper.

Cillisen has moved from Barcelona to Valencia to ultimately REC within the Dutch league, and that has seen him run out of favour within the nationwide set-up.

Extra not too long ago, the nod has been given to Ajax’s Remko Pasveer. However at 39, whereas Pasveer may need made the minimize for the 26-man roster, his inexperience may cost a little him a spot within the beginning 11. The opposite contender for the position is Justin Bijlow. Enjoying for Feyenoord within the Eredivisie, Bijlow has saved seven clear sheets in 13 appearances this season and is the prime contender to start out.

Van Gaal’s again three

Van Gaal has most popular a three-man backline in latest video games with two superior wing-backs venturing into the ultimate third.

The centre-piece for the Dutch backline shall be Virgil Van Dijk, who’ll be partnered by Nathaniel Ake and Jurrien Timber on both facet.

Plying their commerce within the Premier League, each Van Dijk and Ake are deadly in taking part in lengthy balls into channels – focused at both the forwards or the superior wing backs.

Timber will get the sting over Matthijs De Ligt as the proper centre again most likely due to his attacking exploits. With a number of accidents preserving De Ligt out of motion within the buildup to the World Cup, Timber has been the mainstay within the place.

Nonetheless, names like De Ligt and Stefan de Vrij being on the bench suggests the depth in defence that the Netherlands has.

The wingbacks shall be Denzel Dumfries on the proper, and Daley Blind on the left.

Oranje is thought to let its strikers drop deeper and permit the attacking wingers to make runs in behind. It was this philosophy that helped the crew terrorize Belgium right into a 4-1 defeat within the Nations League.

In a extra conservative setup, the 2 gamers fall again to transform the three-man backline to a five-man line. The backups for the positions shall be Jeremie Frimpong and Tyrell Malacia.

Midfield

Transferring to the midfield, Netherlands once more depends on gamers who’re medical in shifting into areas and taking part in vertical passes. At its coronary heart is Frenkie De Jong. The 25-year-old’s nationwide crew kind has been unaffected by the controversies surrounding him at Barcelona.

De Jong performs the pivot however is extra dynamic. Recognized to drop deep, nearly turning into the extra man within the again line, De Jong drives the ball ahead to distribute assaults. Martin De Roon has been the understudy for this position, and can once more be the backup for the defensive midfielder position.

The Netherlands closely depends on forward-moving, box-to-box midfielders which assist in including numbers within the opposition penalty space. In that sense, Ginnie Wijnaldum lacking out because of an harm is a large loss. The names that make the minimize are Davy Klaasen and Teun Koopmeiners, and the previous is more likely to begin.

The final spot in midfield is crammed by Steven Berghuis who’s the artistic outlet within the crew. Berghuis is given the liberty to enterprise out broad on the proper after which minimize in to permit overlapping runs from Dumfries.

Xavi Simons and Cody Gakpo are the opposite midfield choices at Van Gaal’s disposal. Whereas Simons performs a central place, Gakpo is a winger. However their appearances on the World Cup are more likely to be restricted to minutes off the bench.

Forwards

The obvious selections to suit into the two-man frontline for the Netherlands are Memphis Depay and Steven Bergwijn. Each gamers may not be true strikers however match into Van Gaal’s system.

Regardless of Depay’s minutes for Barcelona plummeting for the reason that arrival of Lewandowski, Van Gaal has reposed religion in him. Recognized to drop deep, Depay’s presence helps draw defenders out of place and create area behind the wing-backs. Depay himself can slip behind backlines as nicely and create an overload on the wing.

Bergwijn, however, has discovered kind after his transfer to Ajax. Bergwijn is one other participant who prefers to float broad after which dribble the ball in. With seven targets and three assists within the Eredivisie up to now, Oranje shall be relying on him to ship.

When trying to change to a extra direct fashion of play, Van Gaal may have Luuk De Jong and Wout Weghorst at his disposal. Whereas the duo is pretty respectable at linking play via the midfield, it’s notably deadly contained in the field and might play the target-man position.

Predicted Lineup: Bijlow – Timber, Van Dijk, Ake – Dumfries, Berghuis, De Jong, Klaasen, Blind – Depay, Bergwijn