The first half of the Qatar 2022 World Cup has already ended for some teams, so it’s time to look ahead. For the Netherlands, winning group A was what they were supposed to do. Check out who could be their rivals in the round of 16.
Everyone wanted to be in Group A when the Qatar 2022 World Cup draw was made as the hosts could be weak. That had the Netherlands as one of those lucky teams and they took advantage. Although it was not easy for them to be in the round of 16.
The Dutch struggled quite a bit in the first round. For example, they couldn’t have played better than a Sadio Mane-less Senegal in their opener. But when their individual talent emerged with Frenkie de Jong’s assist to Cody Gakpo in the 86th minute of the match that eventually ended 2-0.
They barely drew 1-1 with Ecuador in the 2nd leg in a scoreline that left them on top. In the end, they only needed to beat Qatar to secure qualification. The Netherlands topped the table thanks to a 2-0 win.
Who could the Netherlands face in the round of 16?
In the World Cup there isn’t an additional draw after the groups like it happens in the Champions League. Every squad already knows their potential route from the beginning. That is why it was set that the winner of group A was going to play against the second of group B, and vice versa.
That other group has England, Iran, the USA, and Wales. For how things are there, anyone could be their opponents. The English lead with four points, followed by the Iranians with three, the Americans with two, and the Welsh with one. It’s so even that any of those sides could be their rival in the round of 16.
On Matchday 3 the games for them to watch later today are England vs Wales and Iran vs the USA. Those results will determine who they will be playing against on Saturday, December 3. But what can’t change is that the squad in the second place of group B will be the next challenge for the Dutch.
