NETHERLANDS are taking on Ecuador in their crucial Group A clash RIGHT NOW – and they lead 1-0!
Earlier in their group this afternoon, Senegal defeated hosts Qatar 3-1.
This means that should the game end in a draw today then Qatar will be knocked out.
Holland failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup leaving the entire world stunned due to their unbelievable squad.
But their new range of talent such as Frankie de Jong and Cody Gakpo has led people to believe that they could be the dark horses of the tournament.
And Netherlands will be backed to get the job done against an Ecuadorian side who haven’t made it out the group stages since 2006.
- Kick-off: 4pm UK
- TV channel: ITV 1
- Live stream: ITV X
- Netherlands XI: Noppert, Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk, Ake, Blind, Koopmeiners, F. de Jong, Klaassen, Gakpo, Bergwijn
- Ecuador XI: Galindez, Caicedo, Estrada, Estupinan, Hincapie, Mendez, Plata, Porozo, Preciado, Torres, Valencia
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Holland 1 – 0 Ecuador
7. Klassen nicked the ball off the Ecuador defence and fed Holland’s most in-form striker.
The forward took two touches to the ball out from under his fast feet.
And then he unleashed a howitzer into the stanchion.
Holland 1 – 0 Ecuador
6. GAKPO BANGER!
A left-foot piledriver flies in the top bin.
Pick that out
Holland 0 – 0 Ecuador
4. Ecuador have an injury with Preciado down and needing treatment.
The defender gets to his feet but has to go off.
A bit of physio TLC appears to have cured him and we have 11 v 11 again.
Holland 0 – 0 Ecuador
2. The Dutch controlling the ball with Total Football.
Ecuador are not pressing too high or desperately.
Edgar Davids is wearing sunglasses on the bench. Well you would too if you were Eddie Davies
Headache
Some Dutch fans are wearing traditional Arabic head dresses in the stadium.
There are reports that fans are not allowed to drink alcohol while wearing such outfits.
So lets hope they’re teetotal or have alternative clothes under their orange robes.
EcuaRoar
The boys belt out their anthem with some gusto.
Valencia shuts his eyes tightly as studies have shown voluntary blindness can increase singing volume by up to 3 per cent.
They are up for this.
Ecuabore at the back
The yellow underdogs are on a run of seven consecutive clean sheets starting way back in March.
The Dutchm, though, have kept four clean sheets in their last four World Cup matches and have their eye on equalling the tournament record of five.
A goal fest is not on the cards.
Beginning of the Enner
Ecuardor ace Enner Valencia kicked the Qatar tournament off with a classy brace against the hosts.
But how will the sharp shooter fare against the Dutch and their star defender Virgil van Dijk?
The Liverpool leader has struggled at times in the Prem this season. Can he be exposed again?
Ecualiser?
The South Americans go 5-4-1 in a defensive bid to blockade against the Dutch attack.
Expect wave after to wave of orange skill and flair.
But we have seen a few superb upsets so far and would love another.
Sub Standard
Some real aces in the dug-out hole for Netherlands today.
De Ligt, Depay and De Jong all start on the bench.
Will it be D-Dady for the Dutch or Ecuador?
Group A state of play
So here is the Group A table.
And this means that if this next game is a draw then hosts Qatar will be the first team knocked out.
There will be no way of them reaching four points with one game left.
Atmosphere building
The fans are arriving in their droves in Doha.
Not long to kick-off now.
And remember, if it is a draw then hosts Qatar will be knocked OUT.
Credit: AFP Credit: AFP Team News
Netherlands XI: Noppert, Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk, Aké, Blind, Koopmeiners, F. de Jong, Klaassen, Gakpo, Bergwijn.
Ecuador XI: Galindez, Caicedo, Estrada, Estupinan, Hincapie, Mendez, Plata, Porozo, Preciado, Torres, Valencia.
Sambad news
Neymar is reportedly out of Brazil’s next two games at the World Cup.
The PSG forward injured his ankle against Serbia and now looks ruled out of the remaining group games.
What effect will that have on the World Cup favourites?
Depay sidelined
The rapid forward only gets a spot on the bench.
But we can expect him to get at least the second 45 minutes.
Depay de price
LvG has revealed that fellow Manchester United reject Memphis Depay could play a half of the game after his hamstring injury.
The boss said: “The injury he has makes it so difficult to decide when he can start.
“But he is an extraordinary player and so I have set aside my principles because I consider him to be incredibly important to my team.
“I explained this to the players, that I am doing all this for Memphis, and the players accepted this.”
Dum For
Holland started the OneLove campaign but have decided against pressuring Fifa further over the armbands.
Defender Denzel Dumfries said: “Over the past few weeks, we’ve really talked about it a lot. But we came to Qatar to play football.
“That’s what we’re focusing on”.
No Stance
Holland boss Luis van der Gaal insists his side do need to copy Germany and their anti-Fifa gesture.
The ex-Man United manager said: “”We put a full stop after all the political issues last Thursday.
“We have this purpose and we’re not going to have that tarnished by the actions of Fifa, or whichever other organisation”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
