CNN
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The spherical of 16 match on Saturday between the US Men’s National Team and the Netherlands is likely one of the extra intriguing clashes in the primary knockout spherical of Qatar 2022.
Though the bookmakers have the Netherlands because the odds-on favourite, this match-up is actually nearer than that and each teams will really feel assured of reserving a place in the quarterfinals.
The USMNT gave England actual hassle in its group stage match and can possible have come out of that recreation the extra dissatisfied of the 2 teams with the 0-Zero draw, whereas a stable win over Iran in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all match confirmed that Gregg Berhalter’s males can carry out below intense stress.
With the Netherlands ranked eighth in FIFA’s world rankings – eight locations above the US – and boasting world famend abilities like Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay, Saturday’s match shall be a tricky one for the US.
Can Berhalter’s males attain the final eight for the primary time since 2002? CNN Sport takes a glance.
Of course, the principle concern for the US is the health of star man Christian Pulisic.
The Chelsea ahead suffered what he known as a pelvic contusion whereas scoring the winner in its crunch match against Iran, however head coach Berhalter stated Friday that Pulisic is on monitor to play on Saturday.
Pulisic, dubbed “Captain America” by some US followers, instructed reporters Thursday that he “will do everything in my power to work with this medical team and make sure that I can play.”
Fortunately, for US followers, the USMNT tweeted from its official account late on Friday that Pulisic “has been cleared to play” in the win-or-go-home match towards the Dutch.
The efficiency towards Iran – a gritty however deserved 1-Zero win – can have been extremely pleasing to Berhalter, in explicit because it got here towards the backdrop of a lot off-field stress in the buildup.
Berhalter and captain Tyler Adams confronted some robust questions from Iranian journalists in a fiery pre-match press convention, heading off accusations of hypocrisy and disrespect.
That his staff was in a position to focus and ship when it mattered most will give Berhalter and US followers enormous confidence going into Saturday’s match.
“From here, anything can happen,” Berhalter said forward of the match. “It’s a great opportunity, but it’s not something that we’re going in thinking it’s an honor. We deserve to be in the position we’re in and we want to keep it that way.”
While Pulisic is undoubtedly the star of the USMNT, captain Adams has been the staff’s engine and heartbeat.
The Leeds midfielder has proven poise each on and off the pitch, drawing reward for his composure and eloquence in responding to these questions from Iranian journalists.
Berhalter, whose staff is but to concede a aim from open play at this World Cup, heaped reward on his “general” following the win towards Iran.
“Tyler fits a very specific role,” Berhalter said. “He is the general, he is the strategist. He’s the guy that goes out there and leads by example. When he talks, people listen.”
If the US can carry out because it did towards England and for a lot of the sport towards Iran, a place in a primary World Cup quarterfinal since 2002 beckons.
The USMNT shall be assured towards a Netherlands facet that hasn’t fairly received it collectively in Qatar.
Louis van Gaal’s facet has did not impress up to now, incomes a late win towards Senegal thanks to 2 goalkeeping errors from Édouard Mendy and solely tallied a degree towards Ecuador in a recreation it was lucky to not lose.
The staff’s 2-Zero win over Qatar was a extra convincing efficiency, however even that comes with the caveat of the Qataris being poor at this event.
Few would have anticipated the Netherlands to be a critical contender at this World Cup and it’ll pleasing to go coach van Gaal, a supervisor recognized for his pragmatism, that his facet certified prime of Group A regardless of not but clicking as a staff.
The 71-year-old, at present in his third spell in cost of the Dutch nationwide staff, hit again towards claims from one reporter that his staff’s efficiency towards Qatar had been “terribly boring” and, in his pre-match press convention for the quarterfinals, lauded a “fanatical and sharp” US staff.
“I know from experience that matches against countries such as the United States and Australia, who we encountered at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, are always very difficult,” van Gaal stated Thursday.
“They work very exhausting they usually’re good on the ball.
“The USA has demonstrated that it has an excellent team, I would even say one of the best teams, a team that is fine-tuned, [but] it’s nothing we can’t overcome,” van Gaal added Friday, per Reuters.
“The USA that is a very energetic squad, they have physically strong players and that is tough for any opponent, and you can tell from their results, but we will do everything we can to win and to beat USA, that’s it.”
The Netherlands mustered simply eight photographs on track in its three group stage matches however was scientific in scoring 5 objectives, thanks largely to star teen Cody Gakpo.
The 23-year-old has possible drastically elevated his switch worth this event, a lot to the delight of Dutch membership PSV Eindhoven, scoring his three objectives together with his proper foot, left foot and head to steer the 2022 World Cup golden boot race alongside Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Rashford, Álvaro Morata and Enner Valencia.
Reports counsel that Manchester United are among the many golf equipment already chasing Gakpo’s signature following the World Cup and fellow Dutch star van Dijk stated the winger’s potential might see him “go to the moon and back.”
“He is a very good player and a good boy too,” the Liverpool defender stated. “What we see in coaching is what you see on the pitch. There continues to be a lot potential and I hope he can stick with it displaying it for us. We are very proud of him.
Van Gaal added: “Things can change, but Cody has everything it takes to become a star. He has a wonderful personality to become a star player because he is open minded to anything and everything.”
This staff struggled towards an athletic Ecuador staff, a menace the USA can even pose, and the Netherlands will want Gakpo at his finest – together with van Dijk and midfielder de Jong – to progress previous a stern check in the Americans.
10 a.m. ET on the Khalifa International Stadium.
US: Fox Sports
UK: BBC or ITV
Australia: SBS
Brazil: SportTV
Germany: ARD, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom
Canada: Bell Media
South Africa: SABC