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The USA take on the Netherlands at 14:00 CET today at the Khalifa International Stadium to kick-off the final round of 16 at the Qatar World Cup.
After topping their group, Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side are favorites for this fixture although they are sure to face stiff opposition from Gregg Berhalter’s young US side who remained unbeaten to claim second spot in their group. With kick-off less than an hour away, both mangers have named their starting lineups, which they hope will take them into the quarter-final stages of the World Cup in Qatar, where they will face either Argentina or Australia, which will be decided tonight.
The sides have met on five different occasions, with the Netherlands winning four times although the US beat the Dutch at home in the summer of 2015, which they will be hoping to recreate this evening.
Netherlands v USA Highlights June 2015
Louis van Gaal has remained consistent with his starting keeper in Andries Napport, who will be protected by a back three led by Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk with Nathan Ake and Jurrien Timber on either side of him. Denzel Dumfries and Daley Blind are the two selected wing backs, and van Gaal will be relying on the pair to run up and down the flanks all evening and provide balls into the box for his attackers.
Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong anchors the Netherlands’ midfield and will be looking to halt US attacks as well as pose an offensive threat himself. The Dutch number 21 netted a goal in his side’s recent 2-0 victory over tournament hosts Qatar. De Jong is accompanied by Atalanta’s Marten de Roon at the center of the park while Ajax’s Davy Klaasen is positioned in more of an attacking midfield role ahead of the midfield pair.
Up front is where the Dutch really show their quality, with Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo leading the line for their country. Gakpo in particular has shown himself to be a star in the making with a goal in all three of his side’s games in this World Cup so far.
The USA start with Matt Turner between the posts and Berhalter has selected Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman as his center-back pairing as Cameron Carter-Vickers is a surprise absentee. Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson start as right and left sided fullbacks for the US, and the pair will be hoping to put in yet another impressive performance today.
Skipper Tyler Adams will slot into his usual defensive midfield role ahead of the defense and he will be vital in stopping opposition attacks today as he has done throughout the tournament. Juventus’ Weston McKennie and Valencia’s Yunus Musah accompany Adams in midfield, although they will look to get forward more often.
Christian Pulisic returns from his post-goalscoring injury versus Iran to start on the left up front for the US today while FC Dallas forward Jesus Ferreira lines out on the other side. Timothy Weah leads the line and the pacey striker will be hoping for better composure in front of goal than he had against Iran.
Netherlands v USA Starting Lineups
Netherlands: A. Noppert, J. Timber, V. van Dijk, N. Ake, D. Dumfries, M. de Roon, F. de Jong, D. Blind, D. Klaasen, C. Gakpo, M .Depay
USA: M .Turner, S. Dest, W. Zimmerman, T. Ream, A. Robinson, Y. Musah, W. McKennie, T. Adams, C. Pulisic, T. Weah, J. Ferreira
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