Virgil Vand Dijk's heated duel with Robert Lewandowski

The Netherlands are confident of going to Qatar as one of the favourites and have been threatening to do so for a little over a year now. Van Gaal's third spell as coach began on 1 September 2021 and, since then, they remain unbeaten after 14 matches (10 wins and four defeats).

The Poland game was the latest display from a team that seems to dodge trouble with the ease of the greats. The first came in the second minute of the match, when a collision with Linetty ruled Koopmeiners out of the game. Berghuis came on and was one of the best players of the first half. It didn't take him long to gift Blind a goal with a cross that the left winger wasted. Dumfries, more attacking on the right, combined with Berghuis and Memphis to get into the box and set up Gakpo in a great team move.

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Van Gaal started the second half without Frenkie de Jong, apparently because he was suspended. He and Berghuis, a playmaker, were perhaps too attacking a pairing for a double pivot winning 1-0 away from home. This saving of minutes and risk for the Barcelona man was noticed in the creation of play, but there was Bergwijn to solve it. The Ajax striker played a one-two with Janssen and scored at will. The latter had come on for Memphis, who had to withdraw with discomfort in the 52nd minute.

Poland hardly had any chances. In the second half Milik missed a clear-cut chance, but Pasveer was not overtaxed either. The Timber-Van Dijk-Aké trio (De Ligt watched the game from the bench) gave Lewandowski no chances. Three fast and physically powerful centre-backs monopolised Van Gaal's defensive system, which defended in 5-2-1-2 but attacked with one of the wingers as a winger.

Virgil nullified Lewandowski

The goals were scored by PSV and Ajax stars, but the feeling was that where they were, anyone could have been. This Dutch team is working to a chorus and on Sunday they can get the first prize of this Van Gaal era by reaching the Final Four. For that, a draw with Belgium or a defeat that does not mean losing the 4-1 lead from the first leg is enough.