He gave logic to Al Bayt. The Netherlands confirmed their favoritism against the worst hosts in the history of the World Cup, beating Qatar 2-0 and taking first place in Group A of the world Cup🇧🇷 The Dutch built the result with goals from Gakpo – who becomes the top scorer of the tournament together with Enner Valencia and Mbappé, all with three – and De Jong. The second wave of the group went to Senegal, which beat Ecuador 2-1.
Group A reached the last round with the promise of a lot of mathematics to define the standings and first place, given that the Netherlands and Ecuador entered the field with equal merit for points (4), victories (1), goal difference ( 2 ), goals scored (3) and goals conceded (1). In this way, the first place would be the one who won the match with a greater goal difference than the rival. But it wasn’t even necessary.
With the defeat of Ecuador, the Netherlands ended the first phase alone at the top of Group A, with seven points, five goals scored and only one conceded (in the tie with ecuador🇧🇷 Senegal took second place, with six points, to Ecuador’s four. Qatar, in turn, greeted supporters with a third defeat in three games, something unprecedented for a host – and once again without scoring goals, just as they had been in the debut.
Holland’s opponent will still be known today (29), with the 4pm (Brasilia time) matches in Group B: Wales x England and Iran x United States. Whoever takes second place in the group will open the round of 16 against Laranja Mecânica this Saturday (3), at 12:00 (Brasilia time), at the Khalifa International stadium.
With qualifying, the Netherlands and Senegal now join Brazil, France and Portugal, sides who guaranteed themselves a place in the round of 16 even before the third round.
Gakpo, always him, puts Holland ahead and equalizes Cruyff
Needing a large win or risk losing top of the group, the Netherlands wanted to open the scoring early to be more relaxed during the match. But it wasn’t like that. It took 26 minutes — and a few scares from the Qatari attack — to finally take the lead. And do you know who? Always with him: the young Gakpo, 23 years old. And with a goal.
In a very well worked play on the left, the sector most explored by the Netherlands since the beginning of the game, Gakpo received from Memphis in the centre, played Klaassen, received back and, with plenty of space in front, closed with a right foot with the category, in the left corner of the goalkeeper. Holland’s fourth goal in Qatar, the third from Gakpo, who took over the artillery and equaled the legendary Cruyff, who also has three goals at the World Cup, all scored in the 1974 Cup by the Dutchman Carossel.
And it wasn’t just that. With the goal, the striker became the first player in Dutch history to score in every match in the first round of the World Cup.
Watch out, De Jong reassures the Netherlands
If in the initial phase the Netherlands took more than 25 minutes to score, in the second half the story was easier, thanks to a lack of attention from the Qatari defence. In the 5th minute, Klaassen crossed from the right to the far post, Memphis dominated from behind and shot from close range. Barsham defended himself on a reflex, but, on a rebound, De Jong got in front of the Qatari defenders and sent it on goal. 2-0 and peace of mind for Louis van Gaal’s team.
The VAR comes into play
The orange audience celebrated again in the 24th minute of the final stage, but the joy was contained by the VAR. After Berghuis scored, referee Bakary Gassama was called upon to review the shot on the video monitor and ended up disallowing the goal due to a touch on Gakpo’s arm originating the move. Later in stoppage time, Berghuis came close again, but his left-footed shot hit the crossbar.
Qatar greets with yet another negative record
After “protecting” the file Worst campaign by a visitor in World Cup history with two defeats in two games, Qatar amassed another negative record today. They became the first host country in the competition’s history to lose their three group stage matches. In the three games he conceded seven goals and scored only one.
Data sheet
Netherlands 2 x 0 Qatar
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A Round 3
Local: stage To the Bayt, am To the-khor (QAT extension)
Date and time: November 29, 2022, at 12:00 (Brasilia time)
Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
Assistants: Elvis Noupue (Cameroon) and Mahmoud Ahmed Kamel Abo El Regal (Egypt)
Yellow cards: What (HOL)
Goal: Gakpo (HOL), 26′ into the first half; De Jong (HOL), 5′ in the second half
Holland: Noppert; Timber, Van Dijk and Ake; Dumfries, De Roon (Koopmeiners), De Jong (Taylor) and Blind; Closed (Berghuis); Gakpo (Weghorst) and Memphis (Janssen). Technician: Louis Van Gal
Qatar: Barham; Mohamad (Khidir), Pedro Miguel, Khoukhi, Hassam and Ahmed; Madibo (Boudiaf), Al Haydos (Assadalla) and Hatem (Alaaeldin); Akram Afif and Almoez Ali (Muntari). Technician: Happy Sanchez
Which team will win the World Cup in Qatar?
1.91%
1.52%
7.79%
0.19%
0.86%
29.74%
0.20%
0.18%
0.25%
0.27%
0.22%
0.12%
3.62%
0.08%
3.95%
0.19%
0.91%
1.94%
0.23%
0.54%
0.16%
0.11%
0.13%
0.10%
7.00%
0.22%
4.22%
0.11%
29.51%
2.71%
Total of 41843 congratulations
