Netherlands are willing to seal their faith into the latter rounds of the 2022 World Cup with a win against already-eliminated hosts, Qatar.
The Dutch drew 1-1 with Ecuador even after taking the lead only six minutes into the game while Qatar suffered back-to-back losses in the group stages going down 3-1 against Senegal.
NED vs QAT Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Time: 18:00 (AST) / 20:30 (IST)
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
NED vs QAT Match Preview
Cody Gakpo scored as early as sixth minute of the game against Ecuador to sell early dreams of last 16 qualifications for the Dutch. Top scorer so far in the 2022 World Cup, Enner Valencia had other ideas as he netted for the third time for the equalizer early in the second period. Netherlands were overplayed by the South American nation managing only two shots for the entire game, the one shot on target being Gakpo’s opener. In contrast, Ecuador took 15 shots with four on target with one hitting the crossbar. It is not unfair to say that the Oranje were lucky to escape with a draw. Although, Louis van Gaal's side will take that as they face already-eliminated Qatar in the final group stage game in the view of finally advancing to the latter stages. Netherlands certainly cannot slip up facing the hosts battered in their first World Cup experience. However, a defeat could also see them qualify, provided that Ecuador beat Senegal in the other game. They will lose first place if that is the case which could pin them against winners of Group B in the round of 16. England is expected to win that group so the Dutch will want to avoid them early in the knockouts. The task should not be hard considering Qatar have failed to take any points on board and scored only once. The hosts have also conceded five goals out of six shots on target. Hence, Louis van Gaal's side will receive plenty of chances to put the game to bed although they will wish another unprecedented shock does not occur in this tournament.
Also Read | Netherlands’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile and FIFA World Cup 2022: Netherlands - World Cup Records and Stats
The 3-1 loss to Senegal all but confirmed Qatar’s exit from the 2022 World Cup. The hosts became the first side to get eliminated from the competition with the status of other nations still pending till the final group games. The only thing Felix Sanchez’s side will be positive about from their campaign is the first-ever World Cup goal for the nation scored by Mohammed Muntari in the 78th minute. They were losing 2-0 by that time with Boulaye Dia scoring before the break after an error clearance from Boualem Khoukhi while Famara Diedhiou double the lead in the 48th minute. Just when the hosts seem to be having a grip on the game after halving the deficit, Senegal’s substitute Bamba Dieng scored in the 84th minute to kill the game off. The defeat also meant Qatar are the first host nation to lose multiple group-stage games in a single World Cup. They already carried a stale record of being the first-ever nation to lose the opening game in World Cup history. But the hosts looked a lot better than the 2-0 defeat to Ecuador in the curtain raiser. Now, they face a more severe test than the rest in the last group stage game against the Netherlands. Felix Sanchez’s side will have nothing to lose in the match so can be a bit adventurous despite the attacking threat of Cody Gakpo and now fully fit Memphis Depay for the Dutch. Qatar will play for pride and try to produce an even bigger upset taking lessons from the other shocks in this World Cup so far.
Recent Form
NED: WD
QAT: LL
NED vs QAT Predicted Lineups
NED: Andries Noppert; Jurrien Timber, Van Dijk, Nathan Ake; Denzel Dumfries, Steven Berghuis, Frenkie de Jong, Daley Blind; Cody Gakpo; Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Depay
QAT: Meshaal Barsham; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan; Ismael Mohammad, Karim Boudaif, Assim Madibo, Al-Haydos, Homam Elamin; Almoez Ali, Mohammed Muntari
NED vs QAT Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Noppert (7)
DEF: Miguel , Van Dijk (9), Ake (8.5), Hassan (8)
MID: Bergwijn (8.5), F de Jong (9), Boudaif (8.5)
FW: Ali (8.5), Gakpo (9), Depay (8)
Vice-captain: Frenkie de Jong
Captain: Cody Gakpo
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football and 2022 FIFA World Cup for upcoming matches and updates.
