The USA were knocked out of the World Cup by the Netherlands in the last 16 as the young Americans learned a lesson in clinical finishing.
FULL MATCH REPLAY
Christian Pulisic missed a great chance early on and the Netherlands then surged ahead thanks to two flowing moves as Memphis Depay finished off a lovely 20-run sequence and Dolly Blind almost scored a carbon copy to make it 2-0 right at half-time.
[ MORE: Gregg Berhalter reacts – ‘We made some progress’ ]
Hadji Wright made it 2-1 with 15 minutes to go, but the Netherlands wrapped up victory moments later as the brilliant Denzel Dumfries finished superbly for Louis van Gaal’s free-flowing and determined 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 USA will go home with their heads held high and valuable tournament experience in their back pocket.
The future is bright, but the USA must make the most of it
There is no shame in losing to this Dutch side. They have class throughout their squad and the likes of Memphis Depay, Frankie de Jong, Virgil van Dijk and the excellent wing backs (Dumfries and Blind) were easily in the last 16. The young US. it. Side, the youngest side in the last 16, looked restless throughout and were sloppy on the ball and just couldn’t take their big chances. Christian Pulisic missed a huge chance early on and the Dutch took theirs. Their game plan then was to sit back and pick on the USA and that’s what they did. The Netherlands’ experience and class shone through, but this game, and this tournament, has many positives for the USA.
They are a clinical striker away from making a deep run in 2026 and the young side will likely see seven or eight of the same starters on home soil as they did in Qatar. Whether or not Gregg Berhalter is the boss for this side is a discussion for another day (would a more attacking setup have made a difference? What about playing Reyna and Aaronson more? Should Haji Wright have started against the Dutch?) but this young Core The group of players can be added carefully, and the USA must make the most of their experience from 2022 and make another step forward for 2026 so they can fight with the top 10 teams on the planet. They have to be more clinical and calm when their moment comes. They exceeded expectations in Qatar but there is still a sense of what might have been. This is a good thing. As long as you make the most of it next time around.
Star of the show
Denzel Dumfries: Excellent assist on the second goal and a fine finish for the third. Pushed forward often but also did his defensive job when he cleared off the line. What a display from the Inter Milan right wing back.
Daily Blind: The other wing-back for the Netherlands had an incredible game as he scored and assisted and kept Weah and Dest quiet down the flank. What a display from the veteran.
How to see Netherlands vs. USA Live, streaming link and start time
Kick off: 10:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, December 3
Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
TV channels in Spain: Telemundo
Streaming In Spain: Peacock (all 64 matches)
Denzel Dumfries will be home to put the Netherlands back by two! #FIFAWorldCup
(via @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/F2wgAnC5YS— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 3, 2022
Haji Wright somehow flies home. How!? #NED 2-1 # USA pic.twitter.com/uCWZpdr60D
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 3, 2022
The #USMNT Came so close to scoring from that corner! #FIFAWorldCup
(via @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/N1FZfwisaX— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 3, 2022
Tim Ream almost bundles home but Cody Gakpo clears off his own line. #NED 2-0 # USA
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 3, 2022
Gio Reyna is in half.
Daley Blind makes it 2-0 to the Netherlands right at half time. This is an illness for those #USMNT. Carbon copy of the first target. Got to the byline and cut it back to the penalty spot to finish. #NED 2-0 # USA
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 3, 2022
Memphis Depay finds free space in the box and puts it in #USMNT Down a target. #FIFAWorldCup
🎥: @TelemundoSports pic.twitter.com/1rF9b4D69i— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 3, 2022
Massive opportunity for police! He should have scored.
Key storylines, players to watch closely
The Netherlands are the fourth-best team in ELO ratings and eighth in FIFA’s often-debated ranking, while the Yanks are ranked 20th by ELO and 16th by FIFA.
The big storyline is whether the role of the favorites affects the Dutch, they had that company against Ecuador, Senegal and Qatar, and whether the Yanks can effectively channel their underdog energy again as they did against England.
Our Knockout Round XI. 🇺🇸
Full Lineup Notes » https://t.co/GE3KE3AbyY#USMNT X @visa pic.twitter.com/QkEbdOenVS
– US it. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) December 3, 2022
The big question, of course, is whether Christian Pulisic is 100%, 75%, or less after the pelvic contusion suffered against Iran. While Tim Weah was very good and fullbacks Sergino Dest and Antoine Robinson superb, Pulisic is no doubt the focus of the defenders and the US. It’s also worth seeing if Weston McKennie finally has a game-changing performance in this tournament, as the Juventus man has been back to full fitness all World Cup.
The Dutch were thrilled by the performances of 23-year-old Cody Gakpo, who scored in every game. The back line of Virgil vsn Dijk, Jurrien Timber and Nathan Ake did well, allowing just one goal, while Matthijs de Ligt started the first game in place of Timber and Stefan de Vrij 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.
𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒. 🇳🇱
Ready for a conflict against @USMNT! 💥#World Cup #NEDUSA pic.twitter.com/06QDlWszn6
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) December 3, 2022
Netherlands vs USA all-time
The USMNT scored a memorable victory 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 win. Gyasi Zardes and John Brooks also scored in the game.
The Dutch have won all four previous meetings and all five games have been friendlies between 1998 and 2015.
Netherlands vs USA World Cup History
The Dutch have never faced the USA in a World Cup, and the home of Johan Cruyff certainly has a more illustrious tournament history.
The Netherlands, like the USMNT, missed 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 game outside of penalties since the 1-0 loss to Spain in 2010.
The USMNT’s best tournament finish ended with the controversial loss to Germany in the 2002 quarterfinals, but the Yanks have now reached the knockout rounds the last three times they have participated in the World Cup. They only won a knockout round match in 2002.
Netherlands fast facts
Current FIFA World Ranking: 8
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup Appearances: 10
How they qualified: Automatically qualified from UEFA (won Group G)
Coach: Louis van Gaal
Key players: Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo
USA Quick Facts
Current FIFA World Ranking: 16th
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup Appearances: 9
How they qualified: Automatically qualified from CONCACAF (3rd place)
Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Key players: Christian Pulisic, Taylor Adams, Yunus Musah, Weston McKenney
