Official: Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong start for Netherlands vs Qatar | OneFootball

With the Netherlands set to play their final Group A encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2022 against host nation Qatar, manager Louis van Gaal has decided to hand Barcelona his first start of the tournament.

The 28-year-old was returning after a lengthy injury layoff, as a result of which he played just a little over 30 minutes in the first match against Senegal. The forward featured for the entirety of the second period in the game versus Ecuador but did not make an impression.

But with a place in the knockout stages of the competition yet to be confirmed, van Gaal has decided to count on his main man in attack. Depay starts alongside Cody Gakpo in attack for the Netherlands against Qatar.

Memphis’ Barcelona teammate Frenkie de Jong leads the midfield unit for the Oranje, where he is partnered by Davy Klaassen and Marten de Roon. De Jong has been the standout performer for the Dutch at the World Cup and will again be key today.

At the back, Jurrien Timber, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake form the three-man defensive line while Denzel Dumfries and Daley Blind occupy the wing-back slots. Andries Noppert guards the goal for van Gaal’s side.