Netherlands open up their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign with a smash-and-grab win against Senegal at the Al Thumama Stadium. Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen’s goals were the difference in the match as Oranje managed to come away with all three points with the side’s only shots on target in the match. Neither national side really got serious control of the match with no clear winner in the midfield as well as poor passing moments throughout the game. However, Louis van Gaal’s side still managed to grind out a result despite a below-par performance overall which will pleased the head coach.
SENEGAL – 0
Edouard Mendy, 4 – Was not able to follow-up quick enough in injury time to stop Klaassen’s winner. Did not look as confident as we used to seeing from the Chelsea player.
Youssouf Sabaly, 6
Kalidou Koulibaly, 5
Pape Abou Cisse, 5
Abdou Diallo, 4
Krepin Diatta, 5
Cheikhou Kouyate, 5
Nampalys Mendy, 5 – The defensive midfielder was rarely able to gather control in the match and help
Idrissa Gueye, 5
Ismaila Sarr ,6 – The winger had the best chance in the match for Alou Cisse’s side after a wonderful drop of the shoulder saw him beat the defender and his curling effort on target if it were not for Van Dijk’s headed clearance away.
Boulaye Dia, 5 – Aliou Cisse appears to have faith in Dia to fill the gap Mane left now that he is ruled out with an injury. Dia had a number of chances to him before he was substituted but was never in the right position to take them.
Others: Jakobs 5, Jackson 5, Gueye 6, Dieng 5
NETHERLANDS – 2
Andries Noppert, 7 – An impressive debut with a number of key saves to keep Louis van Gaal’s side in the match and keep all three points. His save from Gueye straight after Gakpo was a big moment in the match too.
Matthijs de Ligt, 6
Virgin van Dijk, 6 – had a couple of shaky moments in the first-half but still managed to contribute a lot at the back to keep Senegal quiet throughout the match. His header to clear of Sarr’s brilliant move was a notable highlight from the centre-back.
Nathan Aké, 6
Denzel Dumfries, 5
Frenkie de Jong, 4
Steven Berghuis, 6
Daley Blind, 5
Cody Gakpo, 7 – Plenty of energy and substance from the PSV Eindhoven player as his header ended up being the main difference in Qatar. He will be frustrated
Vincent Janssen, 5 – Did not offer a lot going forward and never linked up well with Gakpo or Bergwijn
Steven Bergwijn, 6 – Had arguably Oranje’s best chance in the match early on in the first-half with the former Tottenham Hotspur player seeing Gakpo’s pass across the face of goal go behind him after losing his marker.
Others: Koopmeiners 5, Klaassen 5, Depay 5, De Roon 4
