THIS IS IT!
Netherlands won 2-0 their opening match against Senegal thanks to the goals scored by Gakpo and Klaassen.
After a relatively subdued match, the Netherlands managed to win their opening game of the 2022 World Cup against Senegal 2-0. The game started off quite well for the team coached by Louis van Gaal, but then it quickly became a slow match with very few chances for either side. Frankie de Jong and Daley Blind had the best opportunities in the first half, but they both failed to open the scoring. The second half started as the first one ended, with the Netherlands keeping the ball and Senegal waiting in the defensive side of the pitch. The first real chance of the second half was the goal scored by PSV striker Cody Gakpo, thanks to a very nice assist from Barcelona's midfielder Frankie de Jong. In the last minute of the match Ajax's midfielder Davy Klaassen scored the second and last goal of the match that put an end to Senegal's dreams of finding a late equalizer. It wasn't a good performance for Netherlands, but the three points are definitely a good starting point for their World Cup campaign.
After the first two matches of the group stage, Netherlands and Ecuador are leading the Group A with six points (complete standings), while Senegal and Qatar have zero points. On Friday Senegal will play against Qatar at 8 a.m. ET (complete schedule), while Netherlands will face Ecuador at 11 a.m.
Netherlands won 2-0 their opening match against Senegal thanks to the goals scored by Gakpo and Klaassen.
It's 2-0 for Netherlands after the goal scored by Davy Klaassen, who scored on the rebound of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The match is now almost over.
It's 1-0! Netherlands scored the opening goal of the match with Cody Gakpo. We finally got the first goal of the game, with an amazing assist of Frankie de Jong and the header of Cody Gakpo. Senegal's defense definitely had some responsibilities here, and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as well.
Cheikhou Kouyaté is forced to be subbed after he suffered a tough injury and this is another important miss for Senegal especially after Sadio Mane was forced to miss the tournament. Looks like he will be out for a couple of weeks.
Dia had a chance to score the opening goal in Doha but Noppert was able to save it. Senegal are dangerous when they attack and Netherlands need to be careful when they are defending, as they did up to now.
Netherlands keep the ball, Senegal wait, but the score is still the same. Depay is coming on instead of Janssen for Netherlands to try something different.
The second half has just started with no changes in the two teams.
After a quite nice start of the match, the two sides waited and studied the opponent. Netherlands had more chances but couldn't score so far while Senegal showed their strength and lacked on the counterattacks. It's 0-0 until now but this is definitely a match to follow in the second half because a lot of things can happen.
Two big chances for Netherlands but Blind and de Jong both missed the occasions they had. Senegal are suffering quite a lot right now.
Louis van Gaal's side started off the game better than Senegal and had one opportunity to score the opening goal but missed it. Senegal also showed to be dangerous but didn't have a clear chance yet. This looks like to be an interesting match so far.
The game between Senegal and Netherlands has started. Let's see what will happen in the next 90 minutes.
We are almost ready to see the game in action. The two sides are now entering the pitch for the national anthems at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha.
Senegal do not have a long history of World Cup participation - Qatar 2022 will only be the third time they have reached international football's showpiece event. Their first ever appearance was in 2002 (South Korea and Japan), where they famously made it to the quarter-finals after pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history - beating France 1-0 in the group
stage.
In the last World Cup (Russia 2018) they were unable to get out of Group H, but could count themselves somewhat unfortunate not to progress. Japan and Senegal finished with identical points and goal difference to tie in second place behind Colombia. However, Japan were awarded a place in the round of 16 based on receiving fewer yellow cards.
The Netherlands have had plenty of iconic teams and world class players over the years, but have never actually won the World Cup - despite reaching the final three times. During their golden era, they reached back-to-back finals in 1974 (West Germany) and 1978 (Argentina) but lost to the host nations in both those games. More recently, they finished runners-up in 2010 (South Africa), losing to Spain after Andrés Iniesta's iconic 116th-minute winning goal for La Roja. The Oranje will be desperate to make an impact in Qatar, having failed to qualify for the last World Cup.
Senegal XI: Mendy; Sabaly, Cisse, Koulibaly, Diallo, Kouyate, N.Mendy, Gueye, Sarr, Dia, Diatta.
Netherlands XI: Noppert; De Ligt, Van Dijk, Aké; Dumfries, Berghuis, De Jong, Blind; Gakpo; Bergwijn, Janssen.
Aliou Cissé is the joint-second youngest manager at the World Cup, and the 46-year-old has been in charge of his nation since 2015. He has overseen 79 games - winning 51 matches, drawing 18 and only losing 10. Cissé became a Senegalese hero when he guided the nation to an Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2021, as the Lions of Teranga beat Egypt on penalties in the final, after a 0-0 draw. He has World Cup experience with Senegal too, after they exited the 2018 edition at the group stage.
Iconic Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal is now 71, which makes him the oldest at the World Cup. Remarkably, he has now taken charge of his country on three separate occasions, over a 22 year period.
The first was only a short spell - from 2000 to 2001 - when he failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. A decade later, he returned from 2012 to 2014 - overseeing their 2014 World Cup campaign, when they finished third place, losing out to Argentina on penalties in the semi-final.
Van Gaal came out of retirement to try and make it third time lucky in late 2021, when Frank de Boer left after an underwhelming European Championship campaign. It has been a positive reunion so far - qualifying for the World Cup with ease and enabling a squad packed with talent to click.
Good morning from Francesco Porzio and welcome to the second match of the Group A after that on Sunday Ecuador won 2-0 against Qatar in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup. Senegal and the Netherlands have never actually played against each other - not even in a friendly encounter and this is the first time they meet.
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Odds: Senegal +550; Draw +275; Netherlands -189 (via Caesars Sportsbook)