Van Gal has work to do

Group A winners Netherlands qualified for the eighth World Cup finals on Tuesday evening with a 2-0 win over hosts Qatar. It still doesn’t shine, says NU.nl’s sports reporter Rypke Bakker on Good Morning Netherlands. “Van Gaal still has some work to do.”

With the group win in their pocket, the Orange will face Group B second-placed USA in the last eight. “It was a little better against Qatar than against Ecuador (1-1, Ed.). Still not good enough to take America out for a while.

Baker warns, America has a good crop of soccer players. “It’s a step up from the opponents we had in the group stage. There are some guys who play at big clubs like Juventus, AC Milan and Chelsea.

“The main thing in America is what we miss so much in the Orange right now; the drive and the passion. They play a little less football, but she wants to make up for it. It will be a tough competition for the Orange,” says Bucker.

‘Time to relax, then run’

Goals from tasters Cody Kagbo and Frankie de Jong helped the Dutch win 2-0 against Qatar at the Al Bad Stadium in Algor. Senegal, the first opponent in the group, was eliminated 2-0.

The match against USA will be played on Saturday at 4pm (local time). National coach Louis van Gaal says the Orange players will have a free afternoon for the match. “There is time to relax, time to see children and wife. But then the switch needs to be changed.

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By: Peter Visser