Our 3️⃣ points after Netherlands eliminate USA from the World Cup | OneFootball

The United States were knocked out of the World Cup by a superior Netherlands side on Saturday.

Here are three things we took away from the match at the Khalifa International Stadium.

What could have been

The USMNT were always considered the underdogs in this encounter and the best team undoubtedly won in the end, but it could have been a very different story.

Gregg Berhalter’s side made a bright start to the game and should have taken the lead in the third minute, when Christian Pulisic somehow found himself in behind the Dutch defence and with a clear sight of goal.

But the chance seemed to catch Pulisic by surprise (perhaps he thought he was offside?) and by not opening his body up fully with the finish, he made it a little too easy for goalkeeper Andries Noppert to make the save.

They were quickly made to rue that miss when Memphis Depay put the Netherlands in front a few minutes later, and the Oranje controlled much of the game thereafter.

An early goal for the USA could have made all the difference, and Pulisic will be kicking himself.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice …

The goal to open the scoring was one Dutch legend Johan Cruyff would have been proud of.

Louis van Gaal’s side executed a brilliant example of total football to work the ball out wide to wing-back Denzel Dumfries, and his cut-back to the edge of the area was met by an excellent Memphis finish.

There wasn’t much the USMNT could have done to stop that great piece of play, but their failure to heed its warning was lamentable.

Coach Berhalter would have been hoping to get his side in at half-time 1-0 down but in first half stoppage time, they conceded another very similar goal to the first one. Dumfries was again the provider with an excellent cut-back, and Daley Blind applied the finishing touch.

It was another good goal, but the USA’s statuesque defending of their penalty area left them with a mountain to climb in the second half.

How far can the Dutch go?

Few people expected the Netherlands to be World Cup contenders this year, but they will be a good test for any team at this tournament.

There were moments of vulnerability in this game, but overall it was a controlled performance as cool as Edgar Davids on the Dutch bench.

Van Gaal’s system makes it difficult for opponents to put his defence under sustained pressure, and the back three of Virgil van Dijk, Jurrien Timber and Nathan Aké are capable of snuffing out most of the danger that comes their way.

The likes of Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo provide plenty of quality in midfield and attack, and this team is perhaps best epitomised by the fact two of the goals in this game were the result of one wing-back assisting the other – Dumfries tee’d up Blind for the second, before Blind returned the favour for the third.

The Dutch have a solid team with a strong spine and decent options in reserve.

Argentina or Australia shouldn’t be thrilled about the prospect of facing them in the quarter-final.