World Cup 2022 FIFA World Cup - Group A - (Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands)

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PThe Dutch should comfortably top it, but second place is open. I can see Qatar pinching it given the inevitable refereeing they will receive.

Either that or Qatar will call up a few random Brazilllians / Africans by claiming that once upon a time their mothers were born in Qatar.
 
It's such a weird era for the Dutch - all our usual strengths are weaknesses and all our usual weaknesses are strengths.

The Dutch have always been a highly attacking team who want to play beautiful football. They've almost always had lots of world class strikers, wingers, attacking mids and goalkeepers.

However, they've almost always had a "no-name" defence, poorer structures and a bunch of infighting and egos in the dressing room that have thwarted the chances of very, very talented teams.

As an example of our wealth of attackers at times, I remember a period growing up where Patrick Kluivert was the main man at Barcelona and the Netherlands incumbent no 9. Bergkamp was at his peak and weaving his magic in Arsenals' dominant peak as our incumbent no 10. Problem was, Ruud van Nistelrooy was also the player of the year and golden boot winner in the premier league, banging them in for fun. Across the pond, Roy Makaay was La Liga's top scorer and the European Golden Boot winner at the same time. Hell, even Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was also top 3 in the premier league scoring charts and Robin van Persie was the new kid on the block, having just won "dutch talent of the year" and having a hot start at Arsenal. We were trying to pick 2 players when we had arguably 5 of the most in form 7-8 strikers in the world. (not counting all the dominant wingers and attacking mids we had at the same time). The defence, however, was all just Eredivisie players.

This time round, we have Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool), Mathis De Ligt (Bayern Munich), Nathan Ake (Man City), Stefan DeVrij (Inter), Denzel Dumfries (Inter) and backups like Timber and Malacia to be well stocked defensively.

Up forward is relative slim pickings though with Memphis Depay (injured and missing game time at Barca) probably still the headline act with most of the forwards plying their trade in the Dutch league (Berghuis, Bergwijn, Gakpo) or having injury ineterrupted campaigns (Malen, Danjuma, etc).

The goalkeeping stocks is another major issue. Usually having to manage multiple worthy No 1's, the Dutch barely have a goalie in form. It seems likely that they either go back to Cillessen (yuck) or to old man Pasveer (just coz he is the Ajax No 1, even more yuck).

(The midfield looks fine - though I'm not sure how we'd go without Frenkie de Jong - who does a lot both ways)

The good news is structually and playing together wise, they still seem quite strong despite the lack of headline names across the park. They've been organised and flowing and have been getting the results for the last while, having lost only 1 game in their last 25 matches, including multiple wins over Belgium, Germany, etc.
 
One thing I forgot to mention is that Daley Blind will probably start every game as one of our wing backs :sick:

Yes, he's very experienced, tackles well and is an excellent distributor but if you thought he was too slow for that role in his Man Utd days, you should see him now. He's soooooooooo slow and an otherwise strong team can be easily picked apart before the whistle's even blown by putting a pacey winger on his flank. They'll just run past/around him with ease and have space and time to deliver crosses (or shots) under no pressure.

It's like the Maguire situation but much, much worse. At least Maguire can play well or might have a costly brain fade at an unanticipated moment that could cost the team (if the oppo pounce on his error). He can also have entire games of being solid without these errors. Blind is unable to be faster than he is. His slowness can be planned for and exploited. He can't suddenly have a game without being slow (like Maguire can have an error free game). It's a huge weakness to concede to opposition managers at the World Cup level.
 

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Netherlands World Cup squad​

PositionPlayerClubAgeCaps
GoalkeeperRemko PasveerAjax (NED)382
GoalkeeperAndries NoppertHeerenveen (NED)280
GoalkeeperJustin BijlowFeyenoord (NED)246
DefenderVirgil van DijkLiverpool (ENG)3149
DefenderNathan AkeManchester City (ENG)2729
DefenderJeremie FrimpongBayer Leverkusen (NED)210
DefenderStefan de VrijInter (ITA)3059
DefenderDaley BlindAjax (NED)3294
DefenderMatthijs de LigtBayern Munich (GER)2338
DefenderTyrell MalaciaManchester United (ENG)236
DefenderJurrien TimberAjax (NED)2110
DefenderDenzel DumfriesInter (ITA)2637
MidfielderFrenkie de JongBarcelona (SPA)2545
MidfielderDavy KlaassenAjax (NED)2935
MidfielderXavi SimonsPSV Eindhoven (NED)190
MidfielderSteven BerghuisAjax (NED)3039
MidfielderMarten de RoonAtalanta (ITA)3130
MidfielderKenneth TaylorAjax (NED)202
MidfielderTeun KoopmeinersAtalanta (ITA)249
ForwardMemphis DepayBarcelona (SPA)2881
ForwardSteven BergwijnAjax (NED)2524
ForwardCody GakpoPSV Eindhoven (NED)239
ForwardWout WeghorstBesiktas (TUR)3015
ForwardVincent JanssenRoyal Antwerp (BEL)2820
ForwardLuuk de JongPSV Eindhoven (NED)3238
 

Senegal World Cup squad​

PositionPlayerClubAgeCaps
GoalkeeperEdouard MendyChelsea (ENG)3025
GoalkeeperAlfred GomisRennes (FRA)2914
GoalkeeperSeny Dieng Queens Park Rangers (ENG)273
DefenderKalidou KoulibalyChelsea (ENG) 3163
DefenderPape Abou CisseOlympiacos (GRE)2712
DefenderAbdou Diallo RB Leipzig (GER)2618
DefenderFode Ballo-ToureAC Milan (ITA)2514
DefenderFormose MendyAmiens (FRA)212
DefenderIsmail JakobsMonaco (FRA)231
DefenderYoussouf SabalyReal Betis (SPA)2924
MidfielderIdrissa Gueye Everton (ENG)3395
MidfielderCheikhou KouyateNottingham Forest (ENG) 3282
MidfielderNampalys MendyLeicester City (ENG)3018
MidfielderPape Gueye Marseille (FRA) 2311
MidfielderPape Matar SarrTottenham (ENG) 208
MidfielderMamadou LoumReading (ENG)253
MidfielderMoustapha NamePafos (CYP)276
MidfielderPathe CissRayo Vallecano (SPA)280
ForwardSadio ManeBayern Munich (GER)3092
ForwardIsmalia SarrWatford (ENG)2447
ForwardBoulaye DiaSalernitana (ITA) 2518
ForwardBamba DiengMarseille (FRA)2212
ForwardIliman NdiayeSheffield United (ENG)2714
ForwardFamara DiedhouAlanyaspor (TUR)2924
ForwardKrepin Diatta Monaco (FRA) 2325
ForwardNicolas JacksonVillarreal (SPA)2122
 
8 caps between the 3 Dutch keepers. Must be very, very slim pickings for GKs over there.
Apparently Krul declined to take part in penalty-saving practice which is why LVG decided to exclude him from the squad. Not sure what's happened to Cillissen though?
 

Qatar World Cup squad​

PositionPlayerClubAgeCaps
GoalkeeperSaad Al-SheebAl-Sadd (QAT)3280
GoalkeeperMeshaal BarshamAl-Sadd (QAT)2415
GoalkeeperYousuf HassanAl-Gharafa (QAT)269
DefenderPedro MiguelAl-Sadd (QAT)3278
DefenderMusaab KhidirAl-Sadd (QAT)2929
DefenderTarek SalmanAl-Sadd (QAT)2454
DefenderBassam Al RawiAl-Duhail (QAT)2451
DefenderBoualem KhoukhiAl-Sadd (QAT)3299
DefenderAbdelkarim HassanAl-Sadd (QAT)29120
DefenderIsmaeel MohammadAl-Duhail (QAT)3266
DefenderHomam Ahmed Al AminAl-Gharafa (QAT)2327
DefenderJassim JabirAl-Arabi (QAT)200
MidfielderAli AsadAl-Sadd (QAT)2956
MidfielderAssim MadiboAl-Duhail (QAT)2643
MidfielderMohammed WaadAl-Sadd (QAT)2320
MidfielderSalem Al-HajriAl-Sadd (QAT)2623
MidfielderMustafa Meshaal TarekAl-Sadd (QAT)211
MidfielderKarim BoudiafAl-Duhail (QAT)32108
MidfielderAbdulaziz HatimAl-Rayyan (QAT)3296
ForwardNaif Al-HadhramiAl-Rayyan (QAT)211
ForwardAhmed AlaaeldinAl-Gharafa (QAT)2945
ForwardHassan Al-HaydosAl-Sadd (QAT)31160
ForwardAkram AfifAl-Sadd (QAT)2583
ForwardAlmoez AliAl-Duhail (QAT)2682
ForwardMohammed MuntariAl-Duhail (QAT)2841
ForwardKhalid MuneerAl-Wakrah (QAT)243
 

Ecuador World Cup squad​

PositionPlayerClubAgeCaps
GoalkeeperAlexander DominguezDeportes Tolima (ECU)3567
GoalkeeperHernan GalindezAucas (ECU)3512
GoalkeeperMoises RamirezIndependiente (ECU)222
DefenderRobert ArboledaSao Paulo (BRA)3132
DefenderXavier ArreagaSeattle Sounders (USA)2817
DefenderPervis EstupinanBrighton (ENG)2428
DefenderPiero HincapieBayer Leverkusen (GER)2021
DefenderWilliam PachoRoyal Antwerp (BEL)210
DefenderDiego PalaciosLAFC (USA)2311
DefenderJackson PorozoTroyes (FRA)225
DefenderAngelo PreciadoGenk (BEL)2425
DefenderFelix TorresSantos Laguna (MEX)2516
MidfielderMoises CaicedoBrighton (ENG)2025
MidfielderJose CifuentesLAFC (USA)2310
MidfielderAlan FrancoTalleres (ARG)2423
MidfielderCarlos GruezoAugsburg (GER)2745
MidfielderJhegson MendezLAFC (USA)2531
MidfielderAyrton PreciadoSantos Laguna (MEX)2827
MidfielderJeremy SarmientoBrighton (ENG)209
ForwardMichael EstradaCruz Azul (MEX)2636
ForwardRomario IbarraPachuca (MEX)2824
ForwardAngel MenaClub Leon (MEX)3445
ForwardGonzalo PlataReal Valladolid (SPA)2129
ForwardDjorkaeff ReascoNewell's Old Boys (ARG)233
ForwardKevin RodriguezImbabura SC (ECU)220
ForwardEnner ValenciaFenerbahce (TUR)3374
 
Mane is confirmed as being out for the whole tournament, which is a shame for all football lovers.


I still think Senegal have a good squad, so I reckon they'll progress from the group. But without Mane, round of 16 is probably their limit.
 

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World Cup 2022 FIFA World Cup - Group A - (Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands)

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