Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
When Holland reached the inaugural UEFA Nations League final in 2019, few thought they were ready to win the tournament.
Yet three years on and Louis van Gaal has the ‘oranje army’ believing again – even a look at the SBOTOP betting odds for the forthcoming World Cup shows they are once more becoming a force in international football.
After going through the entire Nations League campaign unbeaten, winning five of their six matches, and qualifying for the semi-finals with something to spare in a group which contains the nation ranked second in the world, you can certainly see why.
Perhaps the Dutch, currently ranked eighth, are finally ready to go for glory.
In this winner-takes-all contest with top spot at stake in their final Group A4 game, they saw off Belgium yet again, following up their 4-1 win over the Red Devils in Brussels in the first game.
Progress indeed.
Highlights of the game
Before a passionate home crowd in Amsterdam, they rounded off their set of 2022 Nations League highlights with the only goal of the contest 17 minutes from time.
Young winger Cody Gakpo, a half hour substitute to replace the injured Steven Berghuis, provided the delivery from a corner and centre back Virgil van Dijk applied the finishing touch with a powerful header from close range.
Belgium so nearly drew level in stoppage time in the Johan Cruyff Arena when Dodi Lukebakio showed great athleticism, getting up to meet a Kevin de Bruyne pass and producing a bicycle kick which struck the post.
Yet even if that had gone in, it would not have stopped Holland topping the group and reaching the last four.
In fact, considering Belgium needed a win by three goals to leapfrog their opponents in their standings, they never truly looked like they believed they would.
They had some chances with Axel Witsel rifling a fierce effort which called goalkeeper Remko Pasveer into action just after the half hour.
However, his counterpart also had to be alert and, five minutes after the restart, Thibaut Courtois showed why he is one of the best around to tip away a powerful effort from Denzel Dumfries.
When the full-time whistle sounded, this was the latest impressive result since van Gaal arrived back for a third stint in charge of the national team.
The veteran boss is showing no signs of easing his demands either.
When he guided Holland to third place in the 2014 World Cup, goalkeeper Tim Krul was one of his heroes.
Now he has told Krul there is no future for him in the international set-up after he snubbed a training request.
The Norwich City keeper, who has 15 caps for his country, was invited to take part in specialist penalty practice with the other shot-stoppers at the Dutch team’s training base last week – but declined.
That has seen Van Gaal quash any chance Krul had of making the squad for Qatar with the former Manchester United boss declaring “that is the consequence of his decision”.
With the 71 year-old in charge, there will be no doubt who is boss and, tactically, Holland will be a force to be reckoned with at the World Cup.
As for this result, will Belgium be disappointed? Yes.
Will Holland be thrilled? Yes.
But is the World Cup his winter their priority? Absolutely.
Should the neighbouring countries meet again in Qatar, expect fireworks.
Key statistics
Holland are now unbeaten in their last 15 games.
The Netherlands now have 57 victories against Belgium who have tasted success on 41 occasions.
This was the first time in 11 matches that Holland have failed to score at least twice.
What’s next?
It’s to the World Cup we now go for both these nations.
Holland’s opener is against Senegal on November 21 followed by matches against Ecuador four days later and hosts Qatar on November 29.
That’s in Group A.
Meanwhile Belgium, who finished third in the last World Cup in Russia four years ago, have arranged two friendlies – against Iraq (November 15) and Egypt (November 18) – before getting their Group F campaign underway against Canada on November 23.
Morocco (November 27) and Croatia (December 1) follow.
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