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

Many football fans in the Netherlands still don't like Louis van Gaal, but he can counter the complaints with results as he plotted the route into another World Cup quarter-Final.

When he took the Dutch to third place in the World Cup, they only lost on penalties to Argentina, but he is still being accused of being a negative person.

In his response to his detractors, this coach was usually candid. He has gone 19 games without a loss since he took over the reins of the Netherlands in August 2021.

The Netherlands produced a ruthless display of finishing to punish a wasteful US side and it was a satisfied Van Gaal who packed away his trademark notebook and pen.

The fans of the Dutch's famous 'total football' believe that Van Gaal is a micromanager because of his hands-on style of coaching.

He gets results at this level, which means the Dutch are not a team to be underestimated.

As he moves into the closing stages of the World Cup, Van Gaal is expected to make his biggest statement of all to those who question him.

The Netherlands did not light up the group stages but they did finish top of their section and are here again. This is the same person as before.

He has a lot to be modesty about, but he will never be bothered by modesty.

This is the coach who won three Eredivisie titles with AZ Alkmaar and two La Liga titles with Barcelona. He was part of the team that lost to Inter Milan in the 2010 European Championship.

The FA Cup was won by Van Gaal.

If the Dutch fail in the World Cup, it won't be because of their coach's lack of confidence, but because they don't know how to win.

This was their best performance to date, containing a goal that will make the fans in Van Gaal's homeland proud.

The Netherlands pieced together a magnificent 21-pass sequence in their truest traditions and Memphis Depay gave the move the flourish it deserved when he converted a cross pulled back by Denzel Dumfries.

There was a similar pass from the right wing on the stroke of half-time that led to Blind's goal.

With Haji Wright's freakish deflection, the US snatched a lifeline and Blind repaid the compliment with a cross that his teammate met on the volley.

For all the criticism of conservatism, there is skill and quality in this team.

Van Gaal has a world-class defensive leader and captain in Virgil van Dijk, who is clearly a great influence on Nathan Ake alongside him, while Dumfries and Blind provide potent attacking options from the full-back positions.

The left side of the US defence was brutally, and repeatedly, exposed as Inter Milan defender Dumfries won the player of the match award.

Frenkie de Jong gives measure and authority in the middle of the field, as well as being a serious threat alongside the rejuvenated Depay.

Depay, who left Manchester United in the summer of 2015, scored one goal and almost got on the score sheet again.

He joined Barcelona from Lyon in the summer of 2021. He scored 76 goals in 178 games in France after moving there.

If Depay can give more eye-catching displays like this, he will surely attract more attention.

There was a hint of Manchester United days gone by in this win, as the goals were scored by former Old United duo Depay and Blind.

Van Gaal insisted before the match that he wouldn't believe the Dutch would ever win a World Cup if he listened to the media.

There is only one man who believes that the Netherlands can win the World Cup and that is Louis van Gaal.

He is one of the most interesting figures in the game because of his concrete-clad confidence.

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