Netherlands vs USA Predictions

• The Netherlands are unbeaten in 10 World Cup games under Louis van Gaal, winning seven
• The Dutch have won 13 of their last 19 World Cup clashes with non-European sides
• The US have lost 13 of their 23 clashes with European sides at the World Cup
• The Dutch have won seven of their last nine matches

Dutch continue brilliant run

The opening knockout clash of the 2022 World Cup sees the Netherlands meet the USA, with the Dutch shaping up to be a side to fear in the latter stages of the tournament. While they fell at this stage of the Euros last year, their record suggests they won’t suffer a similar fate in Qatar.

Netherlands are unbeaten in all 10 of their World Cup matches under Louis van Gaal (W7 D3), keeping five clean sheets in their last six games at the finals. The Dutch are also unbeaten in their last 19 World Cup games against non-European nations since a 3-2 loss to Brazil in the 1994 quarter-final, winning 13 of those games.

US sweating on Pulisic

The US edged out Iran to make it through Group B, but they lost goalscorer Christian Pulisic to injury in that victory. Pulisic is a bit-part player for his club but he’s crucial for his country.

The Chelsea winger has been directly involved in six goals in his last nine international appearances for USA, including both of their goals at this tournament. . Overall, he’s scored twice as many goals (22) for USA than any other player in the squad. Without him, they’d have a difficult time breaking through a strong Dutch defence.

The Americans also need to overcome a poor record at this stage of the competition. USA have lost three of their four round-of-16 matches in World Cup history. They are also winless in their last 11 World Cup games against European nations. Overall, the US have lost 13 of 23 games against European teams at the finals.

Gakpo to fire Dutch through

Cody Gakpo put Netherlands 1-0 ahead in all three of their group games at this World Cup and he now has five goals in his last six games for his country. The striker is in the picture to win the golden boot after his great start and he’ll be the man the Dutch look to in order to make the breakthrough in this one.

The US could give the Dutch a similar test to Ecuador given how they set up, but the Americans lack the scoring threat to trouble the favourites. They saw just three goals scored across their three group games, so it’s easy to see this being a tight game.

However, The Dutch have won four of their five meetings with the US and they come into the clash with seven wins from their last nine matches. Back them to see off the US to book a quarter-final place, with a 1-0 win my correct score prediction.

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