Netherlands defeated host Qatar 2-0 in final Group A match of 2022 FIFA World Cup at the Al Bayt stadium, thus finished the group stage with 7 points and qualified for Round of 16 as Group winners.
Cody Gakpo gave Netherlands the lead in 26′ while Frenkie de Jong doubled the lead in 49′.
Cody Gakpo became the first player in 2022 FIFA World Cup to score in three consecutive World Cup games. He also became the first player in the Netherlands’ history to score in its first three games of a World Cup tournament. He also got level with Dutch legend Johan Cruyff in his World Cup goal tally, with both having three goals each to their name in the tournament.
Gakpo is only the second player to score the first goal of the match three times in the same group stage of a World Cup (1st and 2nd included), after Italy’s Alessandro Altobelli in Mexico 1986.
The defeat also ensured that Qatar became the first host of FIFA World Cup to end its campaign without at least earning a draw in the tournament it hosted.
Netherlands Starting XI: Andries Noppert, Daley Blind, Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk (capt), Jurrien Timber, Denzel Dumfries, Marten de Roon, Davy Klaassen, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay.
Qatar Starting XI: Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan, Abdelaziz Hatim, Hassan Al-Haydos (capt.), Akram Afif, Ismail Mohamad, Homam Ahmed, Assim Madibo, Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali.
Picture Courtesy: FIFA Media
