A usually belligerent Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal took situation with criticism of his facet’s World Cup performances to date regardless of them topping Group A.
2-0 win over hosts Qatar noticed them end with seven factors, having beforehand overwhelmed runners-up Senegal by the identical scoreline and drawn 1-1 with Ecuador.
However despite the fact that they’d only a few alarms of their opening three matches, Van Gaal was grilled in his post-match press convention about why the video games weren’t notably gratifying to look at.
“I’m not going to develop on it as a result of I feel you could have a distinct opinion of soccer,” he mentioned to at least one journalist.
“Why don’t you write you suppose it’s terribly boring and you’re going residence tomorrow since you couldn’t care much less?”
When it was put to him followers have been “grinding their enamel” on social media in regards to the shows Van Gaal responded: “That’s disappointing however I don’t agree with you.
“That’s your opinion however I don’t suppose your opinion is the right opinion. I feel everybody could be slightly proud we’re progressing to the following spherical.
“I feel issues usually are not as unhealthy as you say they’re.”
Netherlands’ shining mild within the group stage has been Cody Gakpo, the PSV Eindhoven ahead who enhanced his rising status by changing into his nation’s first participant to attain in every of his first three World Cup matches.
The 23-year-old, who was closely linked with Leeds and Southampton in the summertime however is now being tracked by Europe’s high golf equipment, scored the opener earlier than Frenkie De Jong made the factors secure simply after half-time.
“Cody Gakpo is slightly a younger participant, he’s solely been enjoying for PSV for 2 or three years and all the time performed on the left-hand facet,” mentioned Van Gaal.
“He didn’t wish to play centre or quantity 10 however he did should play these positions for me and now he thinks I’m a superb head coach!
“Issues can change in fact however Cody Gakpo has all the things it takes to develop into a star and he has a beautiful persona as a result of he’s open-minded about all the things and something.”
Qatar are the primary hosts to lose all three matches and the one different nation to not make it out of the group stage at a event in their very own nation have been South Africa, who exited with 4 factors.
Head coach Felix Sanchez mentioned they didn’t set any targets for themselves however accepted the possibilities of progress have been slim.
“Speaking about statistics right here, we’re a rustic with 6,000 soccer licences so this was a probable state of affairs,” he mentioned.
“We by no means considered setting a aim of reaching the final 16, our aim was to get right here and compete and see what we might do.
“We’re practical about what we are able to do, the place we’re heading and what’s anticipated of us.
“We’ve got to make our personal evaluation as a result of that’s what actually issues to us.”