Goals from Memphis Depay and Daley Blind gave the Netherlands a 2-0 halftime lead over the United States at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday in the first knockout match of the World Cup, reports Reuters. Depay's wonderful finish from a free-flowing team move in the 10th minute broke the deadlock, and Blind delivered another blow just before the break to put the Dutch on course for a quarter-final clash with Argentina or Australia.
Key attacker Christian Pulisic was included in the United States line-up for Saturday's last-16 game at the Qatar World Cup against the Netherlands at the Khalifa International Stadium.
But striker Josh Sargent, who was also injured in their last group stage game, a win over Iran on Tuesday, misses out as he has not recovered after hurting his right ankle.
Coach Gregg Berhalter has replaced him with Jesus Ferreira, while Walker Zimmerman replaces Cameron Carter-Vickers in the defence.
Pulisic was taken off at half-time against Iran and had been a doubt for Saturday's game with pelvic bruising, but he was declared fit on the eve of the game.
The Dutch stuck with the same starting line-up that beat Qatar in their last group game on Tuesday, with Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay as the attacking duo and Maarten de Roon in a midfield enforcer role alongside playmaker Frenkie de Jong.
Teams:-
United States: Matt Turner, Sergino Dest, Walker Zimmerman, Tyler Adams (capt.), Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Tim Weah, Jesus Ferreira
Netherlands: Andries Noppert, Daley Blind, Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk (capt.), Jurrien Timber, Denzel Dumfries, Marten de Roon, Davy Klaassen, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay.
8:30 PM, Netherlands eager to find rhythm
The Netherlands are in the Round of 16 but even they will admit their progress at the World Cup has been far from impressive.
Though the Dutch topped Group A, they have been criticised for failing to play with any conviction or authority in their opening three games — victories over Senegal and Qatar and a fortunate draw against Ecuador.
12:20 AM, Shock Lionel Messi? Australia say why not
Australia’s players speak in glowing, almost reverential terms about Lionel Messi.
“He just does things that, you know, no one else can do,” forward Mathew Leckie, who scored the all-important goal against Denmark on Wednesday to put his country in the Round of 16, said.
Milos Degenek went even further. “Probably,” the Socceroos defender said, “the best footballer ever to grace the game.” Imagine, then, how they’ll be feeling on Saturday when they share the same field as Messi and his Argentina team in the knockout stage of the World Cup.
