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The 2022 FIFA World Cup will start its second round of the competition, the knockouts with the clash between the USA and the Netherlands. Neither team has faced defeats in this tournament despite each of them looking rather incompetent on certain occasions in their group phase. They also somewhat safely made it to the last 16.

The other common thing between the two is that both of them missed out on the previous edition of the FIFA World Cup in Russia and they certainly have the ambition to go deep in the ongoing tournament as much as possible. While the Dutch are no stranger to the last 16, it’s the USA for whom it has been twenty years since they last progressed out of this stage and made it to the quarterfinals. So it’s definitely more pressure on them.

Further, they aren’t facing just a competitive team but the knockout royalties of the international tournaments. The USA arrived at the last 16 via 5 points while the Oranje secured seven en route to their journey of meeting the Americans.

Netherlands vs The USA Lineups

While there is injury concern in the Netherlands squad in Bayer Leverkusen right back, Jeremie, Frimpong, the place where he would have played is anyway reserved for Inter Milan right back Denzel Dumfries. The Dutch coach, Louis van Gaal might not take risks here and therefore will deploy all his first choices so that means Matthijs de Light, Nathan Ake, F. De Jong, Depay, and Gakpo among others are definitely to make the first eleven.

With respect to the USA, their hero against Iran and captain Cristian Pulisic was almost unable to be in the starting eleven after he suffered a pelvic contusion in round 3 of the competition against the middle eastern side. That doubt however lasted until the emergence of a positive message from Chelsea’s midfielder himself when he announced his fitness in a congratulatory social media post. At this moment, Norwich City winger Josh Sargent is also a possible absentee due to an injured ankle he endured in the game against Iran but in his case, only the medical tests will tell if he will be in the starting lineups. Another player to have fallen into the same issue is Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.

Netherlands vs The USA Possible Lineups

Netherlands: Noppert; Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, De Roon, F De Jong, Blind; Klaassen; Gakpo, Depay

USA: Turner; Dest, Carter-Vickers, Ream, Robinson, McKennie, Adams, Musah; Weah, Sargent, Pulisic

Netherlands vs The USA Predictions

Had the Netherlands had the presence of their veterans, Robben, Sneijder, Van Persie, Kuyt, Huntelaar, and others, it would have been an easy bet but considering they haven’t come across as too well challengers, the USA should not be written off right away. It’s very probable that the Stars and Stripes could frustrate the Dutch throughout the whole 90 minutes or even further. A shoot-out shouldn’t be a surprise.

As mentioned the Dutch weren’t even as convincing as the favorites much less the title contenders during their group stage which hardly had one competitive opponent. They struggled up until the very end to find a goal against not-so-in-form Senegal who also had a few key players missing. They then were rightly outplayed by Ecuador against whom they arguably were lucky not to lose just because the South Americans wasted most of their chances. Their only comfortable win came against the host Qatar which frankly though isn’t much of a consideration when talking about the parameters of a team’s overall strength. The problem with the Netherlands is that while they have quality players and in this case much better than the USA, they just haven’t found their click.

They nevertheless might still be the first to strike but we also see a second-half equalizer from the US after which the game could go all the way to the penalty shootout. And this may be where the Netherlands becomes the Netherlands.

Our projection: Netherlands wins on penalties. 

Netherlands vs The USA Previous Meetings

The USA and the Netherlands have never met each other in competitive fixtures although they have had somewhat enough clashes in the international friendlies. Speaking of which, the two teams have met casually five times the Dutch have claimed the victory on four occasions while the USA only once. Furthermore, the Netherlands has netted 10 goals against the Americans’ 5.

Netherlands vs The USA  Most Recent Odds

source: bet 365

Netherlands vs The USA Previous Stats Of Each Team