Van Gaal: “The Netherlands can control Lionel Messi as we did in 2014”
Netherlands has a hard task of controlling the 6-time Ballon d'Or winner when they face the Copa America winners in the next round after the two sides respectively overcame USA and Australia in Qatar 2022. Van Gaal urges his side to build on their 2014 experience confronting Messi.
The Dutchmen will face
Argentina
on Friday in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup as
Lionel Messi
intends to continue his national heroics by triumphing World Cup after winning the Copa America last season.
However, it isn’t the first time the
Netherlands
have to control the Argentine talisman as they did it perfectly in the 2014 World Cup, where he only managed to have one shot despite losing in the penalty shoot-out.
However, the former Manchester United manager urges his side to learn from their 2014 World Cup experience. He told
De Telegraaf:
"Of course, Messi is the most important player for them, the most creative. Those are always the most important players.
"Eight years ago at the World Cup in Brazil, we succeeded well in neutralising Messi. He didn't hit a ball then.
"We thought we were the better team, but we eventually lost on penalties. I can't back it up with facts any more, but that's my memory.
"I substituted to win the game in regular time. Unfortunately, that did not work out. In retrospect, it may have been a stupid decision."
Van Gaal
continued to praise his Netherlands side which had to overcome some fitness issues during the tournament.
"
I believe in the team over the individual player,"
he added.
"It is not the case that we have already achieved top form as a team. We can be much better, that's what I've always said.
"There is an upward trend. You should also not forget how we arrived with these 26 players. There were players who were not match fit. We had to build them up and so on.
"Much of that is now behind us. Memphis [Depay] can now play 90 minutes, for example. More were sick, weak, or nauseous. That is getting better.
"With our tactical plan we can surprise the opponent. That has been proven several times. These guys haven't lost under my leadership."
"I said that we can become world champions with this squad,"
Van Gaal said.
"I didn't say we're going to be world champions, but we can be.
"If we don't become world champions in the end, because there can only be one, I don't think you can say we failed."
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