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The Netherlands will return to the world stage after their shock absence from Russia 2018, having come narrowly close to lifting the trophy in 2010 and again the following tournament when they consolidated third place in Brazil.
Approaching their 11th World Cup appearance, the Dutch side's rich history at the event comprises 27 wins and 86 goals from their 50 matches, as well as two other second-placed finishes in 1974 and 1978 - the former spearheaded by the late Johan Cruyff and their groundbreaking 'Total Football' style of play.
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Every confirmed FIFA World Cup squad
Meanwhile, upon hiring retired 2014 manager van Gaal for a third time as national team coach in August 2021, after former international Frank de Boer only salvaged a Round of 16 finish at UEFA Euro 2020 which ended in a 2-0 loss to Czech Republic, the Netherlands have remained undefeated throughout his entire 15-match tenure.
After sewing up qualification to Qatar 2022 last November with a 2-0 victory over Erling Haaland's Norway, the Dutch kick-started the calendar year with an emphatic 4-2 win over their highly fancied neighbours Denmark, spawning goals from Barcelona's Memphis Depay, Manchester City defender Nathan Ake and a brace from promising Ajax attacker Steven Bergwijn.
The side continued their international dominance with a group-topping effort in the UEFA Nations League, as they notched impressive wins over Qatar 2022 qualifiers Poland and Wales as well as a 4-1 thumping of second-ranked Belgium in their opening match, although news broke in April that van Gaal had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
With the announcement signalling that the 2022 tournament would likely be the 70-year-old's last as Dutch manager, van Gaal was granted a largely favourable draw in Group A, consisting of Senegal, Ecuador and host nation Qatar.
Opening their 2022 campaign against the former, who were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions in January albeit facing the Qatar-hosted tournament without talisman Sadio Mane, there are opposite kinds of selection headaches facing van Gaal ahead of the 3am (AEDT) kick-off on November 22.
With longtime starter Jasper Cillessen being left out of the squad altogether due to poor form and alleged attitude problems, van Gaal will likely start 39-year-old Remko Pasveer of Ajax in goal for their first match of the tournament, although his and second-choice Justin Bijlow's form have both been on the decline of late. With uncapped 28-year-old Andries Noppert from SC Heerenveen taking up the third goalkeeping slot, the head coach was clearly short of options in this area.
While Ake could potentially start alongside the agile Jurriën Timber in defence, there have been concerns over captain Virgil van Dijk's club form at Liverpool, who remains a near-certainty of taking up the third centre-half position, while out-of-form Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt was recently dropped to the Netherlands' bench.
However, the Dutch side's phenomenal depth begins to shine through upon listing the remainder of their squad.
Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries will likely take up a right wing-back position in the starting 11, while van Gaal also has Dumfries' teammate Stefan de Vrij, Manchester United's Tyrell Malacia and uncapped Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong at his disposal.
Van Gaal's midfield selection includes the likes of Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong and former Manchester United player Daley Blind, while Atalanta pair Marten de Roon and Teun Koopmeiners, Ajax duo Steven Berghuis and Kenneth Taylor, and PSV bolter Xavi Simons will also be competing for starting positions in the middle of the park.
While the battle for starting spots alongside de Jong and Blind will presumably be between Koopmeiners, de Roon and the Atalanta duo, Simons impressively made the squad at age 19 while Taylor turned a few heads as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Belgium during their final Nations League group match.
“I am a huge fan,” said former Dutch international Pierre Van Hooijdonk after the match. “He’s made huge steps,” added fellow retiree Rafael Van der Vaart, “and is extremely dangerous on the ball.”
There will also be a tight tussle for a starting position between Ajax's Davy Klaassen and exciting PSV attacker Cody Gakpo, as only one can play in behind probable starters Depay and Bergwijn amid van Gaal's renowned 3-4-1-2 formation. Veteran striker Wout Weghorst of Besiktas and Club Brugge winger Noa Lang round out the squad.
The undeniable quality in most areas of the Dutch squad contemplates the one aspect that has been gravely overlooked in discussions about contenders for the 2022 World Cup.
Despite facing selection headaches in the goalkeeping department and the waning form of a small number of players, one could argue that van Gaal has the opposite problem in both midfield and attack, with almost every player raising a valid claim for first-team selection at the tournament.
It is through such depth and quality found across the entirety of the 26-man squad which should lead to more group-topping Dutch dominance in Group A, and carrying over to the knock-outs where they would likely face USA, Iran or Wales in the Round of 16, granted fellow contenders England top the group of death.
Predicted Starting XI: Pasveer (GK), Timber, van Dijk, Ake, Dumfries, Berghuis, de Jong, Blind, Klaassen, Depay, Bergwijn.
