The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group A Netherlands v Qatar clash which will see the end of the home nation’s involvement on the field, and Netherlands chance to grab top spot of their group.
With so many games and so little time, our Group A Netherlands v Qatar Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group A Netherlands v Qatar Match Centre.
KICKOFF -TUESDAY 29TH – 18:00 (QATAR) 15:00 (UK) 02:00 (AEDT)
Group A Netherlands v Qatar Match Review
Netherlands have cruised into first place of Group A with an easy win over Qatar who exit the tournament without a point, and just one goal scored.
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
2’ Min Qatar try something different and they have the first shot on target for the match, and don’t the home crowd erupt with excitement.
8’ Min Not quite Klinsmann Trophy worthy just yet, but we have had three separate periods of Qatar players lying down in incredible pain after an aerial duel. None of the clashes look like it would have made a three year old upset, but these are soccer players after all.
11’ Min First decent attacking chance for Netherlands with a bit of a scramble in the Qatar penalty area. A few minutes later Memphis Depay puts a shot over the bar. Netherlands are building their attack nicely now. A cynic would suggest that the hosts or indeed FIFA or likely Qatar telling FIFA to tell the Netherlands team to take it easy on Qatar early.
22’ Min Cynicism aside for a tick, Qatar are pressuring the Dutch defence well, and earn themselves a corner, then another. Although Qatari fullback Abdelkarim Hassan eventually puts a shot on goal 20 metres higher than the crossbar, Qatar have shown they cam put the much fancied opposition.
25’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL FOR NETHERLANDS
After Memphis Depay went close a minute before it is one of the breakout stars of the 2022 World Cup Cody Gakpo who scores for the Netherlands. After a quickfire 1-2 with Davy Klaassen Gakpo charges towards the Qatar penalty area and unleashes a shot to the right of the Qatar keeper who can’t get there in time. That’s a third goal in a third game for Gakpo now.
NETHERLANDS 1 QATAR 0
35’ Min A nice, sustained attacking period from Qatar with the Netherlands defence called onto a few hasty clearance and such, nothing they can’t handle but interesting that the Netherlands aren’t dominating like they should on paper.
40’ Min Half chance for Gakpo to score again but he puts the chance well over the crossbar and was also offside. The point though is how sharp he is tonight, and has shown a lot from his limited involvement to this point.
45’ +3 Min Memphis Depay signs off the first half with a shot at goal that goes well wide of the posts. Netherlands go to the break 1-0 to the good, but they weren’t that great, and continue to slightly underwhelm in general, and massively if you take out Cody Gakpo.
HALF TIME – NETHERLANDS 1 QATAR 0
46’ Min A very early chance for Qatar with a free kick in good position for them. Nothing come of it, but something nice to say about Qatar is always nice.
49’ Min GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL FOR NETHERLANDS
Davy Klaassen provides a reasonably mediocre cross into the box, but a Qatar defender heads it backwards and lands at the feet of Memphis Depay whose shot is blocked, but thankfully for the Dutch Frenkie de Jong is on hand for the rebound and he puts the balls away for goal number two.
NETHERLANDS 2 QATAR 0
64’ Min – Triple substitution time for Qatar to spice things up. And a few minutes later Netherlands do a double substitution themselves, and this one is noticeable not just because they aren’t from Qatar, but it is Memphis Depay and Davy Klaassen leaving the field, both of whom have had their moments in attack.
68’ Min – NETHERLANDS SCORE – BUT OVERTURNED BY VAR
Netherlands looked to have scored their third goal, and it was a an easy one for the Dutch and Steven Berghuis who had just come onto the field, but it was ruled out because of a “handball” by Gakpo in the lead up.
73’ Min Dumfries goes very close to sneaking a goal in via the near post gap, but the Qatari goalkeeper was up to the challenge and stopped it. Qatar have done well to hold Netherlands as much as they have thus far.
79’ Min Probably the best chance of the game for Qatar. An attack down the left is followed by a sharp cross into the box but is repelled by a quick moving Dutch keeper. Something for Qatar to take with the as they exit the tournament.
90’ Min Six minutes of added time are advised. We really don’t see the point of the extra time in this match. Although Steven Berghuis’ goal attempt deserved a goal.
In the end Netherlands did enough to beat Qatar who were OK but they aren’t leaving the tournament with three straight losses for no reason. The big question going forward for the Netherlands is if their relatively weak group and run in will count against them as the bigger names come in the knockout stage.
Final Score
NETHERLANDS 2
Cody Gakpo 25′ Frenkie de Jong 49′
QATAR 0
HT Netherlands 1-0
Player of the Match
Davy Klaassen
Points of Interest
- Gianni Infantino was at the Netherlands v Qatar game, and one of the many things we were wondering about the FIFA big wig was whether he felt Qatari or Dutch tonight. Or maybe he still felt like a woman. Or maybe he was like a bird and would only fly away.
- Whilst on the subject of FIFA, what hypocrites seeing a message on the advertising boards about saving children and ending hunger. How dare one of the most corrupt and greedy sporting institutions on earth take a moral high ground on anything considering the hundreds of millions they take just to host a football match or two.
Group A Netherlands v Qatar Match Stats
Group A Netherlands v Qatar Starting Teams
NETHERLANDS (3-4-1-2)
23 Noppert
2 Timber
4 van Dijk
5 Aké
22 Dumfries
15 de Roon
21 de Jong
17 Blind
14 Klaassen
8 Gakpo
10 Depay
QATAR (5-3-2)
22Barsham
17Mohammad
2Carvalho Deus Correia
16Khoukhi
3Al Haj Fadlalla
14Ahmed
10Al Haydos
23Al Haj Madibo
6Mohammed Abdullah
19Abdulla
11Afif
Group A Netherlands v Qatar Match Preview
Why should you care?
Well depends how much you have death-ridden Qatar’s football on the pitch. Some who feel Qatar shouldn’t be there are probably reveling in the fact they were knocked out in less than a week.
Other may look to the Netherlands as a source of interest, and while they are beaten in Group A, they have hardly been impressive as a whole. Check out some of the stats above, some fields they aren’t better than Qatar.
This could be the game where it all comes together, or if Qatar can cause an upset then it opens up Group in a big way.
Who should you care about?
Cody Gakpo was a name you’d see in those Transfer Gossip article elsewhere on the internet, but like a few players at this year’s World Cup he has lived up to the hype.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
Netherlands have lost just two of the 30 Group Stage games at World Cups. With their last loss in the Gorup Stage coming in 1994 and then 1978 before that.
Netherlands record v Asian sides at World Cup is W5 D1.
Who will win?
Netherlands 1 Qatar 1
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
HOW THE GROUP STANDS
| Ecuador | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Holland | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Senegal | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Qatar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
