Netherlands vs. Qatar Betting Tips: Back Gakpo to find the net

The Netherlands take on Qatar on Tuesday afternoon at the World Cup and we've got Josh Jones on hand to preview the game and provide us with his best bets. 

The Maroon cemented their place as the least impressive tournament hosts of all-time with their 3-1 defeat to Senegal, becoming the only host nation ever to crash out after their opening two games, and must now face the group leaders in their World Cup swansong.

In contrast to Qatar, the Netherlands have already qualified for the next stage of the tournament and will likely feel as though they’ve done the hard bit as far as the group stage is concerned, though they haven’t set Group A alight like some expected of them and they may see this as an opportunity to play themselves into form ahead of the Last 16.

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They’ll also want to make sure they aren’t doing their goal difference a disservice, with Ecuador hot on their heels and Senegal in with a shout of topping the group outright too.

The equation is simple for the Dutch in any case; a victory likely confirms them as group winners - with goal difference the first tiebreaker in the event Ecuador also win - but anything else and they are waiting for news on the result from the other game to decide their fate.

Louis Van Gaal’s side should be confident of a win here, and could be boosted by the return of Memphis Depay to the starting XI - who has featured from the bench in their opening pair of fixtures.

While the Netherlands haven’t been at their scintillating best so far at the tournament, one man has been relentlessly dragging them towards the next stage.

Cody Gakpo opened the scoring against both Senegal and Ecuador, and the manner in which he did so is certainly cause for excitement for the 23-year-old.

Amidst rumours heavily linking him to Manchester United, the PSV forward announced himself on the international stage by bagging a late header against Senegal in his side’s opener.

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While that goal displayed his wonderful movement and bravery in beating the keeper to the ball, the one against Ecuador showcased something altogether different.

Creating something out of almost nothing, Gakpo picked up the ball just outside the Ecuador box before rifling a thundering effort beyond Hernán Galíndez - leaving the 35-year-old with no chance.

For those that have followed his domestic performances this step-up on the international stage comes as no surprise, with 13 goals and 17 assists for his club side already this year.

Now Dumfries hasn’t set this tournament alight with his attacking play yet, but it’s well within his remit and against a weaker opposition is an ideal opportunity for him to push forwards.

With Daley Blind on the other flank the attacking onus is likely to be on the right wing-back to create overloads against the Qataris, and he’s shown in the past that he’s well capable of providing that added spark - as he did so infamously at Euro 2020.

Six shots, four on target, and two goals in three games during the group stage of that tournament earned him a move to then-Serie A Champions Inter Milan - managing 17 shots on target in just 21 league starts in his first season, with 11 in 17 so far in all competitions this season, impressive numbers for a defender.

For his national side that licence to get forward has been clear ever since even when playing in a back four rather than Van Gaal’s preferred five - evidenced by his two goals in four Nations League starts earlier this year.