Van Dijk and De Licht build the strongest defensive line, and the "atypical" Netherlands are looking to return to the top
author：Southern Metropolis Daily
Qatar World Cup Round of 32 Tour · Group A Netherlands
Van Dijk and De Licht build the strongest defensive line, and the "atypical" Netherlands are looking to return to the top
Heavily invested in the creation of ambitious Asian upstarts, unknown people in the South American plateau, African Cup of Nations champions who want to justify African football, uncrowned kings who make a comeback... Group A at first glance feels mediocre and has little to look at, but there are two continental champions out of four: Asian champions Qatar and African champions Senegal. With the Netherlands almost locked in one place, who will the other spend?
Van Dijk and De Licht build the strongest defensive line, and the "atypical" Netherlands are looking to return to the top
Dutch players celebrate Van Dijk's goal during a match on 25 September. In the UEFA Nations League group stage that day, the Netherlands won 1-0 at home against Belgium. Xinhua News Agency
On the evening of November 11, Beijing time, the Netherlands team of the Orange Army announced the 26-man squad for the Qatar World Cup, Van Dijk and De Licht led the luxurious backline, De Jong sat in midfield, and the only one who could get a hand in the forward was Depay, which is an atypical Dutch team.
The Netherlands are the "uncrowned kings" of World Cup history, with a total of three runners-up finishes. In the past eight years, Dutch football and Dutch coach Louis van Gaal have experienced too many ups and downs.
In the last World Cup European qualifiers, the Netherlands shared 19 points with Sweden, but were third in the group due to goal difference. After missing out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Dutch football made a comeback. This time, the Netherlands won the first place in the group and directly qualified for the World Cup finals. However, in recent years, the Dutch team's results have still been fluctuating, reaching the UEFA Nations League final and falling in the last 16 of the European Championship.
Van Dijk and De Licht build the strongest defensive line, and the "atypical" Netherlands are looking to return to the top
Van Gaal celebrates qualifying for the World Cup with his team in wheelchair.
After last year's European Championship, Van Gaal, who led the team to the third place in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, was appointed to the Dutch national team for the third time. But during the period of leading the team, the old coach, who is over 70 years old, first fell and fractured on his bicycle, and could only sit in a wheelchair in a box to command the team to fight in the key battle leading to Qatar. Immediately afterwards, he revealed that he had cancer and would leave his post after the World Cup in Qatar. The Dutch Football Federation announced in April that Ronald Koeman would take over the coach after the World Cup. This also adds a bit of tragedy to the Dutch team's trip to Qatar.
The Netherlands are unbeaten in 15 games with 11 wins and four draws since Chef Fan returned as head coach, and the team seems to have found consistency under him. In the World Cup again, van Gaal certainly hopes to lead the Dutch team out of the trough of the past few years and contribute his last light and heat to Dutch football.
Van Dijk and De Licht build the strongest defensive line, and the "atypical" Netherlands are looking to return to the top
On June 11, Dutch players Frenkie de Jong (first from left) and Depay (third from left) left the field after a match with their teammates. On the same day, in the UEFA Nations League group stage, the Netherlands drew 2-2 at home with Poland. Xinhua News Agency
Compared to the luxurious striker of the previous World Cup, the Dutch forward line is now slightly bleak, Depay was reduced to a substitute at Barca, and Berwin was abandoned by Tottenham and returned to Ajax.
Although the spear is unfavorable, the shield is solid. Today's Dutch central midfield is more stable than ever, with Van Dijk and Matthijd de Licht arguably the strongest centre-back partners in the 32-team at the World Cup. De Jong, the core of the midfield with strong propulsion, gives the Dutch midfielder the power to wrestle with the strong team, and if Wijnaldum is not injured, the Dutch midfield hardness will be even higher.
Van Dijk and De Licht build the strongest defensive line, and the "atypical" Netherlands are looking to return to the top
Dutch player De Licht celebrates a goal during a match on June 6. On the same day, in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, the Netherlands defeated England 3-1 in extra time to advance to the final. Xinhua News Agency
Van Gaal has also set up a strategy of organization and defense for the existing squad, and the steady Dutch team may not be the favorite to win the championship, but it is certainly a strong opponent that other teams dare not take lightly.
Facing opponents with a large gap in paper strength in the group stage, the Dutch team defended well, seized the attacking opportunities, and should have no problem advancing to the knockout rounds. It is said that "defense makes a champion", is there any reason to expect an "atypical" Dutch team to go further?
After announcing the squad, Van Gaal said: "We have a good chance of winning the World Cup, there are not many managers who dare to say that, but now I say it. ”
According to the WeChat official account of the "Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of the Netherlands", recently, there have been shootings, explosions, hijackings and other public security incidents in many places in the Netherlands. In addition, the Netherlands National Security and Counter-Terrorism Department has debriefed the Netherlands...
