The United States were knocked out of the World Cup by the Netherlands in the round of 16 as the young Americans learned a lesson in clinical finishing.
FULL MATCH REPLAY
Christian Pulisic missed a glorious early chance and the Netherlands then took the lead with two smooth moves as Memphis Depay completed a fine 20 pass streak and then Daley Blind scored almost a carbon copy to take the score to 2-0 at halftime.
[ MORE: Gregg Berhalter reacts – ‘We made some progress’ ]
Haji Wright made it 2-1 with 15 minutes to go but the Netherlands claimed victory moments later as brilliant Denzel Dumfries finished superbly for Louis van Gaal’s smooth and resolute side .
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
The Netherlands will now face the winner of Argentina and Australia in the quarter-finals, while the United States will return home with their heads held high and valuable tournament experience in their back pocket.
The future is bright, but the United States must make the most of it
There is no shame in losing to this Dutch team. They have class throughout their squad and Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong, Virgil van Dijk and the excellent wingers (Dumfries and Blind) were comfortable in the last 16. This young American team, the youngest of the last 16, looked uncomfortable throughout and were sloppy on the ball and just couldn’t seize their big chances. Christian Pulisic missed a huge chance early on and the Dutch took theirs. Their game plan then was to sit down and eliminate the United States and they did. The experience and class of the Netherlands shone through, but this game and this tournament had a lot of positives for the United States.
They are a clinical striker away from making a deep run in 2026 and this young side will likely see seven or eight of the same starters at home as in Qatar. Whether or not Gregg Berhalter is the boss of this team is a discussion for another day (would a more attacking setup have made a difference? What if we played more Reyna and Aaronson? Should Haji Wright have started against the Dutch? ) but this young core group of players can be added with care and the United States must make the most of their experience in 2022 and take a step closer to 2026 so that they can fight with the 10 best teams on the planet . They need to be more clinical and calm when their time comes. They exceeded expectations in Qatar, but there is still a sense of what could have been. This is a good thing. As long as you make the most of it next time.
The stars of the show
Denzel Dumfries: Superb assist on the second goal and good finish for the third. Often pushed forward but also did his defensive job clearing the line. What a display from the Inter Milan right-back.
Daley Blind: The other Netherlands winger had an amazing game scoring and assisting and keeping Weah and Dest quiet on that flank. What a display from the veteran.
How to watch Netherlands vs USA live, stream link and start time
To start up: 10 a.m. ET, Saturday, December 3
Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Spanish TV channels: Telemundo
Diffusion in Spanish : Peacock (all 64 matches)
Denzel Dumfries returns on the fly to bring the Netherlands back by two! #Fifa World Cup
(Going through @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/F2wgAnC5YS— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 3, 2022
Haji Wright is somehow coming home. How!? #NED 2-1 #UNITED STATES pic.twitter.com/uCWZpdr60D
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 3, 2022
The #USMNT came SO CLOSE to scoring that corner! #Fifa World Cup
(Going through @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/N1FZfwisaX— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 3, 2022
Tim Ream almost goes home but Cody Gakpo clears his own line. #NED 2-0 #UNITED STATES
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 3, 2022
Gio Reyna is at half-time.
Daley Blind made it 2-0 to the Netherlands at halftime. It’s disgusting for the #USMNT. True copy of the first goal. Arrived at the bypass line and brought back to the penalty spot to finish. #NED 2-0 #UNITED STATES
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 3, 2022
Memphis Depay finds free space in the box and puts the #USMNT down a goal. #Fifa World Cup
🎥: @TelemundoSports pic.twitter.com/1rF9b4D69i— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 3, 2022
Massive opportunity for Pulisic! He should have scored.
Key scenarios, actors to watch closely
The Netherlands are the fourth-best team in the ELO rankings and eighth in the often-controversial FIFA rankings, while the Yanks are ranked 20th by ELO and 16th by FIFA.
So the big story is whether the role of favorites affects the Dutch, having had that tag against Ecuador, Senegal and Qatar, and whether the Yanks can once again channel their underdog energy effectively as they have. made against England.
Our eleventh knockout round. 🇺🇸
Full Lineup Notes » https://t.co/GE3KE3AbyY#USMNT X @Visa pic.twitter.com/QkEbdOenVS
— United States Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) December 3, 2022
The big question, of course, is whether Christian Pulisic is 100%, 75% or less from the pelvic contusion he suffered against Iran. While Tim Weah has been very good and full-backs Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson are splendid, Pulisic is undoubtedly central to the American defenders and attack. It’s also worth watching if Weston McKennie finally has a game-changing performance at this tournament as the Juventus man has returned to full fitness for the entire World Cup.
The Dutch were delighted with the performances of 23-year-old Cody Gakpo, who scored in every game. Virgil’s backline against Dijk, Jurrien Timber and Nathan Ake was good, allowing just one goal, while Matthijs de Ligt started the opener in place of Timber and Stefan de Vrij looms on the bench . With Frenkie de Jong in the center of the park, this Dutch team is very strong even if it is not vintage Holland.
. 🇳🇱
Ready for a clash against @USMNT! 💥#World Cup #NEDUSA pic.twitter.com/06QDlWszn6
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) December 3, 2022
Netherlands vs USA all time
The USMNT picked up a memorable win over the Dutch in 2015 under Jurgen Klinsmann, trailing 1-0 and 3-1 before winning 4-3 with goals from Danny Williams and Bobby Wood in the 89th and 90th minutes to claim victory. Gyasi Zardes and John Brooks also scored in the game.
The Dutch had won all four encounters before and all five games were friendlies between 1998 and 2015.
Netherlands vs USA, World Cup history
The Dutch have never faced the United States at a World Cup, and the home of Johan Cruyff certainly has a more illustrious tournament history.
The Netherlands, like the USMNT, missed out on the 2018 tournament. The absence came after finishing third in 2014 and losing the 2010 final to Spain. They have lost three finals in total, two in the mid-1970s, and have not lost a World Cup match outside of penalties since that 1-0 loss to Spain in 2010.
The USMNT’s best tournament result came in the controversial loss to Germany in the 2002 quarter-finals, but the Yanks have now reached the round of 16 the last three times they have appeared in the Cup. of the world. They only won one knockout game in 2002.
Quick facts about the Netherlands
Current FIFA World Ranking: 8
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 10
How they qualified: Automatically qualified by UEFA (Win Group G)
Coach: Louis van Gaal
Key players: Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo
Quick facts about the United States
Current FIFA World Ranking: 16
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 9
How he qualified: Automatically qualified from CONCACAF (3rd place)
Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Key Players: Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie
