This match promises to be surprising. It is very hard to pick a real favourite. On the one hand, there is the Dutch team. On paper, they have a lot of talent. But in reality, with the exception of PSV’s Cody Gakpo, the Dutch seem unable to find any real attacking solutions.
On the other hand, the Americans don’t have the most talented players on the pitch, but their players put in 200% during the 90 minutes of the game. In addition, Christian Pulisic will be on the field despite his injury against Iran. They will also be able to count on their goalkeeper, Matt Turner, who has been performing well since the beginning of this World Cup.
The Dutch should not arrive too confident lest they get caught out by the Americans.
The Netherlands vs USA : Experience in favour of the Oranje
If you look at both squads, there is no doubt that the European team’s squad looks much better equipped. In central defence, they can benefit from the talent and experience of Virgil Van Dijk, who has won numerous titles with Liverpool. In midfield, the ability of Frankie De Jong to work his magic at any time is an asset. Finally, they will benefit from the explosion of their young attacking talent Cody Gakpo. But while on paper this team might look very strong, in reality, they did not convince many in the group stage.
The Americans too have a lot of talented players, but most of them are young and inexperienced. They will have to rely on the experience of their star striker Christian Pulisic, who scored the winning goal against Iran. But also on the speed of Sergino Dest, the AC Milan player finally back to his true level after many injuries. Their goalkeeper too will have to be solid and give confidence to his defence.
For the first time, the two teams will meet in an official competition. These two nations have met twice in the past. The first meeting ended 2-1 in favour of the Netherlands in 2010. The second friendly between the two teams took place in 2015, and that time it ended in favour of the Americans. But both of those games had nothing at stake, unlike this Saturday’s fixture.
The Netherlands vs USA – No surprise on both sides
As expected, both coaches should play with their usual line-up. The only question is whether Pulisic will start, but his absence could be very damaging to his team.
Keys to the game: Efficiency will be of utmost importance
Both teams managed good performances in their group stage. To have a chance to win, their forwards will have to be very effective. In this game the Netherlands could be the winners. Cody Gakpo has a habit of scoring on his first chance. On the other hand, the American side has the feeling that the strikers need several chances to find the back of the net. On top of that, Van Dijk’s defensive experience could make the difference in defence.
Other Predictions to Consider for this USA vs the NetherlandsThe Netherlands will be huge favourites in this game. However, we expect a goalless first half. The game should open up afterwards with a goal from Cody Gakpo or Christian Pulisic. We predict a draw after the first 90 minutes.
