Another loss expected

The hosts of the Qatar 2022 World Cup are in action one more time at this World Cup with Qatar already down and out in their own backyard as the Netherlands simply look to secure passage into the knockout stages and secure top spot in the process at the same time.

As of now in Group A, the Netherlands are still needing to avoid defeat in order to make it through.

They do sit top of Group A, but this is only by the narrowest of margins ahead of Ecuador as both sides have drawn once and won the other game, while scoring three times and letting in just one goal.

There is a possibility that the Dutch can go out here, but they will need to lose to Qatar and Senegal beat Ecuador.

The goals difference is in the favour of the Netherlands right now, and that is making their exit from the World Cup at this stage much harder to predict.

What is the most important factor in them heading through now, however, is how Qatar have lost both games and were the first team to head out of the competition on their own turf.

Qatar headed out first not just because they lost both games, but also because they played first and before everyone else. Nevertheless, they have been terrible at their own World Cup and never looked like winning a game.

Another loss expected

In fact, even though they lost 2-0 to Ecuador, the scoreline could have been much higher after Enner Valencia scored twice and had a goal brutally chalked off by VAR because someone was narrowly offside.

As for the Netherlands, this is set to be Louis van Gaal’s last hoorah before he retires and he has so far looked like taking his Netherlands team relatively far in this tournament.