World Cup: Dutch 'must do better' despite beating Senegal, says van Dijk

Netherlands' defender Virgil van Dijk heads the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Senegal and the Netherlands on Nov 21, 2022. PHOTO: AFP
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group A - Senegal v Netherlands - Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar - November 21, 2022
Netherlands' Cody Gakpo scores their first goal REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
REUTERS

DOHA – Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk admitted that his side had considerable room for improvement despite opening their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over African champions Senegal on Monday.

“We won, but we also know that we can and must do better,” he said after the team needed late goals from PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo and Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Davy Klaassen to win the Group A clash at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium.

“Going forward, we sometimes tried to force things and we too often left ourselves exposed to Senegal’s counter-attacks,” the Liverpool star, who made his major tournament debut on his 50th appearance, told Dutch broadcaster NOS.

“That is an area in which we will need to improve because it is an art that our next opponents, Ecuador, are very good at. But I am optimistic because I feel we are going to get better.”

They had slightly more possession (54 per cent) and had five fewer shots at goal than Senegal, but when the Dutch were able to turn up the tempo, they swept into scoring positions and should have been two goals ahead in the opening 20 minutes.

However, those chances were squandered by Gakpo, one of the most sought-after talents in European club football, and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

Gakpo, 23, was quick to agree in his post-match analysis they had been sloppy, saying: “We weren’t good on the ball. We must have a good analysis of why.”

But Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal labelled his side’s display as “efficient”, while having a sly dig at Senegal for their fitness.

“I always had the feeling we were going to score a goal,” said the 71-year-old, who is in his third spell as national coach.

“It was an efficient win. I will agree we were too shoddy in possession and it wasn’t a good game from us in that respect, but it was a good defensive performance.

“I also thought we were fitter because every two minutes the Senegalese were lying on the ground, which is why we had to play for an extra eight minutes (of stoppage time). So it was a well-deserved victory.”

The African champions, who were missing Ballon d’Or 2022 runner-up and Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane, also rued not being clinical after managing just three shots on target from 14.

After a lacklustre first half, Senegal had four clear chances in the second. Boulaye Dia and Idrissa Gueye forced smart saves from debutant Andries Noppert before Bamba Dieng and Pape Gueye thumped shots over the crossbar.

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse, 46, said he was disappointed and urged his attackers to be “to be more effective in front of goal”.

He added: “We had two or three very good chances... but, of course, the absence of Mane is a problem for us... Our attackers are good and we know what they are capable of.

“It was a challenging game... We need to work on it (scoring goals).”

For giant Heerenveen shot-stopper Noppert, it was a special night as he not only earned his first Oranje senior cap, but also kept a clean sheet.

“It was a boyhood dream for me to play at a World Cup, but I never thought it would be possible,” he told NOS.

“It was really special when the goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek told me on Friday that I was going to play.

“The closer the game got, the more tense I became, but it was a healthy tension.

“Even in club football I have never played at international level, but you have to start someday.”

The Netherlands next face Ecuador, with both sides level on points following the South Americans’ 2-0 win over hosts Qatar on Sunday. REUTERS, AFP

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