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Draw has been kind to improving Oranje squad

James Milton

AFTERF reaching thet World Cup finalf in 2010 and thet semi-finals fourf years later, the Netherlannds failed to qualify for thee 2018 finals but they are backk at the top table this year, still chasing a first global title.

The Dutch,, who were also runners--up at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, qualifieed for the 2022 tournamment in style, rackingg up 23 points from teen games including a 6-1 thumping of second-s placed Turkeyy in September 20021.

They starteed their

Euro 2020 cammpaign impressive ely, albeit in a weak group with h home advantage in Amsterdam m, but their run ended at th he last-16 stage as Matthijs dee Ligt’s red card helped the e Czech Republic claim a sur rprise 2-0 win. That exi t marked the end of Frank de Boer’s B tenure with the natio onal team and the return n of Louis van Gaal for a third spell in ch harge of the Oranje. The veteran coach will w himself be r eplaced by another fam miliar face, Ronald Koeman, aafter the Qatar finals but Van Ga aal has the personnel to go out on a high. There is quality down the spine of th he first 11 with skipper Vir rgil van Dijk, who missed the Euros due to injury, at the heart of the defence, Frenkie de Jong in midfield and prolific livewire Memphis Depay leading the line.

Georginio Wijnaldum, who captained the side at the Euros, is sidelined with a broken leg but the Dutch qualified for the Nations League finals with five wins out of six including impressive 4-1 and 1-0 victories over neighbours Belgium.

Doubts remain over the depth of the squad compared with some of the teams above them in the betting but, as at the Euros, they have received a generous draw which should enable them to make a strong start to their campaign.

DLThe ex-England defender will never fully escape the ghosts of his penalty-shootout miss at Euro 96, but he has been an inspiring head coach, inviting Premier League stars to put aside their club rivalries and shine as a group in the national cause.

• Meticulous attention paid to attacking set-pieces where they pose a major threat Exciting young forwards ooze attacking zeal

• Recent tournament progress

has instilled confidence

• Southgate never seems sure on

his best line-up or formation • Coach will err on the side of

caution

• A lack of authority in central

defence exploited by opponents

WORLD CUP 2022 GROUP A

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2022-11-17T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-11-17T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://racingpost.pressreader.com/article/281908777135307

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