World Cup 2022: Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal counters critics by reaching quarter-finals

Louis van Gaal is simply a sensation galore shot purists successful the Netherlands inactive conflict to get but helium tin antagonistic the complaints with results arsenic helium successfully plotted the way into different World Cup quarter-final.

This vastly-experienced manager was typically forthright successful his effect to his detractors. And the 3-1 triumph against the United States successful the past 16 present successful Qatar means helium has present gone 19 games unbeaten since replacing Frank de Boer successful August 2021 to commencement his 3rd spell arsenic Netherlands coach.

The Netherlands produced a ruthless show of finishing to punish a wasteful US broadside and it was a satisfied Van Gaal who packed distant his trademark notebook and pen earlier a cursory question towards the stands aft triumph was complete.

• Netherlands bushed USA to publication quarter-final place
• Fifa World Cup: Groups and schedule
• World Cup TV sum guide

Van Gaal is simply a notoriously hands-on micromanager of a coach, which those truthful beloved of the Dutch's celebrated 'total football' judge removes state of look and flair.

There is nary uncertainty his methods and straight-talking mode bash not triumph him unanimous favour but determination is besides nary uncertainty helium gets results astatine this level, which means the Dutch are not a squad to beryllium under-estimated.

And Van Gaal is inactive connected people to marque his biggest connection of each to those who question him arsenic helium moves into the closing stages of the World Cup erstwhile again.

The Netherlands did not precisely airy up the radical stages but they finished apical of their section, beating Senegal and Qatar portion drafting with Ecuador and present they are again. Here is Van Gaal again.

Van Gaal volition ne'er beryllium burdened by modesty astir his achievements successful the crippled but helium has a batch to beryllium immodest about.

This, aft all, is the manager who won the Champions League, Uefa Cup and 3 Eredivisie titles with Ajax, 2 La Liga titles with Barcelona and different Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar. He besides won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, who helium besides led to the 2010 Champions League last wherever they were beaten by Inter Milan.

And, of course, Van Gaal won the FA Cup with Manchester United successful 2016.

It is inactive likelihood against that Van Gaal tin propulsion disconnected the top triumph of all, fixed those countries inactive successful the World Cup, but if the Dutch neglect it volition not beryllium done their coach's deficiency of confidence.

The large positive was this was their champion show truthful far, containing a extremity that volition person the purists purring successful Van Gaal's homeland.

Christian Pulisic had already missed the US' champion accidental earlier the Netherlands pieced unneurotic a magnificent 21-pass series successful their truest traditions, Memphis Depay giving the determination the flourish it deserved erstwhile helium converted a transverse pulled backmost by Denzel Dumfries.

Dumfries was supplier again with a akin walk from the close helping connected the changeable of half-time, with Daley Blind the beneficiary.

The US snatched a lifeline with Haji Wright's freakish deflection earlier Dumfries got the extremity helium deserved for each his creation, Blind repaying the compliment with a transverse his chap defender met connected the volley astatine the acold post.

It was a graphic objection of what Van Gaal's squad tin nutrient as, for each the disapproval of conservatism, determination is accomplishment and prime passim this team.

Van Gaal has a world-class antiaircraft person and skipper successful Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, who is intelligibly a large power connected Nathan Ake alongside him, portion Dumfries and Blind supply potent attacking options from the full-back positions successful the Dutch counter-attacking game.

Inter Milan defender Dumfries deservedly won the subordinate of the lucifer accolade, Van Gaal's main limb arsenic the near broadside of th US defence was brutally, and repeatedly, exposed.

Frenkie de Jong gives measurement and authorization successful midfield portion Cody Gakpo, 1 of the emerging stars of this Qatar World Cup, is simply a superior menace alongside the rejuvenated Depay.

Depay, 28 and often remembered for his failed spell astatine Manchester United, was menacing throughout, scoring 1 extremity and astir getting connected the scoresheet again.

He is presently surplus to requirements astatine Barcelona aft helium joined them from Lyon successful June 2021. That determination followed a palmy spell successful France, wherever helium scored 76 goals successful 178 games implicit 4 seasons.

Depay has adjacent been linked with an improbable instrumentality to Manchester United and helium volition surely pull further attraction if helium tin springiness much eye-catching displays specified arsenic this.

There was surely a hint of Manchester United days gone by successful this win, arsenic the goals were scored by erstwhile Old Trafford duo Depay and Blind with the full amusement overseen by ex-manager Van Gaal.

Van Gaal, successful typically spiky form, insisted earlier the lucifer that if helium listened to the Dutch media past helium would ne'er judge the state that mislaid finals successful 1974, 1978 and 2010 would ever triumph a World Cup.

If determination is 1 antheral aboard the squad manager that near Khalifa International Stadium successful Doha connected Saturday who does judge the Netherlands tin triumph the World Cup, it is Louis van Gaal.

And it is this concrete-clad assurance that makes him 1 of astir successful, absorbing and intriguing figures successful the game.

Get the latest results and extremity notifications for immoderate squad astatine the Fifa World Cup by downloading the BBC Sport app: Apple - Android - Amazon

Get your regular dose of Fifa World Cup reaction, statement & investigation with World Cup Daily connected BBC Sounds