Netherlands predicted lineup vs Senegal - World Cup
The Netherlands will end an eight-and-a-half-year wait for men's World Cup football when they face Senegal in Group A on Monday afternoon.
Louis van Gaal was also at the helm for the last World Cup match contested by the Dutch; a 3-0 victory over hosts Brazil in the third-place playoff back in 2014. Just three bronze medallists have made it to Qatar.
Here's the largely new-look side Van Gaal may select to face Senegal.
Netherlands predicted lineup vs Senegal (3-4-1-2)
GK: Remko Pasveer - The second-oldest player to ever make their debut for the Netherlands, Pasveer was 38 when Van Gaal first called him up as recently as September. With Jasper Cillissen a surprise (and incensed) omission, the Ajax number one could earn his third cap on the global stage.
CB: Jurrien Timber - The reported Manchester United target has the chance to bolster a well-stocked pack of suitors this winter.
CB: Virgil van Dijk - When Van Dijk informed Van Gaal that he would be the first penalty taker in a shootout during a Dutch training session, his manager shot back: "Ah… So you’ve become a coach now.” It all ended in laughter (from Van Gaal) but Van Dijk was reminded of the hierarchy.
CB: Nathan Ake - Manchester City's centre-back was only afforded one minute in World Cup qualifying but has wriggled into Van Gaal's plans in 2022.
RWB: Jeremie Frimpong - In the likely absence of Denzel Dumfries, the Bayer Leverkusen full-back is a natural replacement down the right.
CM: Frenkie de Jong - The Barcelona midfielder has missed just one competitive international since making his debut in 2018.
CM: Teun Koopmeiners - The former AZ Alkmaar captain has an eye for goal from midfield, scoring 42 times across the last four-and-a-half years of league football.
LWB: Daley Blind - Just as in 2014, Blind's father Danny - who amassed 42 caps as a player himself - will be part of Van Gaal's World Cup coaching staff.
AM: Cody Gakpo - The Netherlands' Footballer of the Year for the 2021/22 season is averaging a goal or an assist every 55 minutes for PSV this term.
ST: Steven Bergwijn - While some in north London may question his attacking potency, Van Gaal is smitten with the former Tottenham man, gushing that “for us, he is worth his weight in gold” and “in Oranje, he is always a hit”.
ST: Vincent Janssen - Another discarded Spurs forward was reintroduced to the national team in June after five years spent in the international wilderness. Without the injured Memphis Depay, Janssen could earn a starting berth on Monday.