The squad guided by Louis van Gaal will push to keep momentum when they face the host nation, a team already eliminated from the Asian tournament, in a bid to secure early control of Group A.
In a meeting set for this Tuesday at Al Bayt Stadium, the Dutch side aims to clinch a victory that would place them atop their section after a 1-1 draw with Ecuador on the previous matchday. That result left Qatar with the pressure of knowing their campaign is over, following their losses in the opening game against the United States Tricolor and a heavier defeat to Senegal, which sealed a difficult path through the group stage.
Here is some context for fans and analysts alike:
- The Netherlands have a perfect record against Asian nations in World Cup play, winning all four previous meetings and scoring 11 goals while conceding only once. This will be their first competitive clash with Qatar.
- Historically, this is the Netherlands’ fourth World Cup match against a host nation. They fell to Germany in 1974 and to Argentina in 1978, before beating Brazil in a third-place playoff in 2014.
- During the 1978 tournament, the Dutch were edged by Scotland in their final group game, finishing that stage with four wins and three draws after a late scare.
- Qatar has dropped both of their 2022 World Cup matches so far. No host nation has ever lost three games in a single edition of the tournament.
- In the current tournament, the Dutch have converted three of four attempted shots on target overall, though their accuracy dipped in the 1-1 draw with Ecuador. Their best World Cup group-stage conversion rate in recent memory sits higher than in 1990, when only 10 shots on target were registered across the group stage.
- Qatar has enjoyed some positive group-stage trends in past World Cups, with hosts usually finishing group play strongly. The 2002 joint hosts Japan and South Korea are a notable example, though the 2018 Qatar campaign included a different outcome.
- The Netherlands recorded just two shots on target in the 1–1 draw with Ecuador on matchday two, a statistic that marked a notable low for a European side in a World Cup match since records began in 1966.
- Qatar entered this fixture having conceded five goals in the group phase—the most by any host nation in a single World Cup group stage. That mark is historically high for a host, echoing a similar tally by South Africa in 2010.
- Forward Cody Gakpo has been involved in at least one goal in his last five appearances across competitions, contributing four goals and an assist. His season totals tally 16 goals and 18 assists across all competitions for his club and country, underscoring his continued influence.
- Gakpo also supplied a 1-0 lead for the Netherlands in two World Cup matches in 2022, a feat that places him among a small group of Dutch players to score in three consecutive World Cup appearances when looking back at history with Johan Neeskens, Dennis Bergkamp, and Wesley Sneijder.
The upcoming clash between these two teams will be available to a broad audience in the region through regional broadcast partners and streaming platforms, offering fans multiple ways to follow the action live.
In fan participation, a social media moment stood out as supporters weighed in on which post they liked the most. A poll presented a mix of teams and clubs, including Real Betty, Sao Paulo, Cremonese, Ajax, and Burnley, reflecting the broad, cross-continental interest that a World Cup match can generate.
Votes appeared to be rolling in, with fans encouraged to join the conversation and share their picks. The results, once tallied, are expected to circulate shortly, fueling ongoing discussions among supporters worldwide.
Which post did you like the most?
- Real Betty
- sao paulo
- cremonese
- Ajax
- Burnley
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Thanks for voting
The results will appear shortly.
Which post did you like the most?
- 52%Real Betty
- eleven%sao paulo
- 5%cremonese
- 25%Ajax
- 7%Burnley
5143