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The Netherlands still has a long way to go to match the “total football” teams of the 1970s, or even the more offensive “Oranje” squads that reached the World Cup final in 2010 and finished third in 2014, Associated Press reported. Still, a 2-0 win over Qatar on Tuesday ensured the Dutch advanced to the round of 16 by finishing first in Group A while the Qataris, who were already eliminated, became the first host to lose all three of its group matches at the World Cup. “If you play against Qatar everybody will think and expect that you’ll win 5-0 or more, but this tournament has shown that it’s very difficult,” Netherlands midfielder Davy Klaassen, who earned player of the match honors, said through an interpreter. “We’re very critical of ourselves and we need to improve,” Klaassen added. “But we have progressed and we’re going to move on.” Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands ahead midway through the first half with his third goal in as many matches and Frenkie de Jong doubled the advantage five minutes into the second half. The Netherlands, a three-time runner-up at the World Cup, will next face the United States for a spot in the quarterfinals. Qatar, which was making its tournament debut, won the 2019 Asian Cup. But the team’s Spanish coach, Félix Sánchez, said that the Asian Cup can’t be compared to the World Cup. “We came here trying to compete and we managed to do that,” Sánchez said, adding that he wasn’t sure about his future status with the team. “One of the things about our national team is that we have a long-term plan that doesn’t depend on me or anyone else,” Sánchez said. “We’re going to rest for a few days and we’re going to keep working and planning.” The Netherlands, which failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, finished with seven points at the top of the group. Senegal, which beat Ecuador 2-1 in the other group game, advanced in second place with six points. Ecuador was eliminated with four points and Qatar ended up with zero, according to Associated Press. The attendance at Al Bayt Stadium, which also hosted Qatar’s loss to Ecuador in the tournament opener, was given as 66,784 — nearly at full capacity. There were small pockets of orange-clad Netherlands supporters, and Qatar fans behind one of the goals chanted in unison and jumped up and down. At one point during the second half, Qatar fans held aloft a large Palestinian flag that said “Free Palestine” on it. In the 26th minute, Gakpo took control outside the area, dribbled forward and unleashed a powerful side-footed shot between two defenders that entered inside the right post. Gakpo became the fourth Dutch player to score in three consecutive World Cup games after Johan Neeskens (1974), Dennis Bergkamp (1994) and Wesley Sneijder (2010). He also became only the second player to open the scoring for his team three times in the same group stage after Alessandro Altobelli for Italy in 1986. “Cody Gakpo has everything it takes to become a star,” 71-year-old Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said. “Plus he has a wonderful personality. He’s open minded to everything.” De Jong’s goal came when he sprinted forward uncontested to knock in a rebound from close range following a shot from Memphis Depay. A possible third goal for the Netherlands by Steven Berghuis was waved off following a video review for a handball in the buildup, Associated Press reported. Berghuis then hit the bar in added time. While the Netherlands dominated the possession and created many more chances, Qatar did push forward on occasion and there was a nervous moment for the Dutch when goalkeeper Andries Noppert had trouble collecting a long-range shot from Ismael Mohamed after Gakpo’s goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo was claiming the goal long after the final whistle and despite all available evidence to the contrary. The superstar without a club was denied, and denied another slice of Portuguese football history too, and may eventually have to accept his country’s serene progress into the last 16 of the World Cup was somewhat more important. Bruno Fernandes scored twice – despite Ronaldo’s protestations that he converted the first goal against Uruguay – to ensure Portugal joined Brazil and France as the only teams with a 100% start in the competition, The Guardian reported. An eagerly-awaited clash of two talented and tempestuous heavyweights did not meet expectations but the repercussions could prove monumental for Uruguay. The South Americans must beat Ghana on Friday and hope Portugal do them a favour against South Korea to avoid an ignominious early exit. Ghana have waited 12 years for a chance to avenge their infamous defeat by the hand of Luis Suárez at the 2010 World Cup. How they would love to torment a Uruguay team that is yet to become the sum of its big name parts in Qatar. “It is a crucial game but it has nothing to do with what happened 12 years ago,” insisted the Uruguay head coach Diego Alonso. “This is a different situation. We will bring all the weapons we have.” Alonso started with Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Darwin Núñez and Edinson Cavani. He introduced Suárez and Maxi Gómez, who both went close to equalising before Portugal were awarded a ridiculously harsh penalty in stoppage time.

Casemiro's 83rd minute winner was enough to book Brazil's spot in the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup thanks to a 1-0 win over Switzerland at the Stadium 974 on Monday, ESPN reported. But for so much of the match, Brazil looked like they were missing the creativity offered by their absent star man Neymar as they continually tried to break down Switzerland's resolute defence only to come away empty handed. The first half was nervy and quiet, one of the rare moments which roused the crowd was the short power outage in the 43rd minute.

Ghana have been able to overcome a spirited South Korean comeback, defeating them 3-2 in what has been the most exciting day of the 2022 World cup so far, Aljazeera reported. Earlier on Monday, Cameroon and Serbia shared points in an exhilarating 3-3 draw. Mohammed Salisu and Mohammed Kudus gave Ghana a two-nil first-half lead on Monday at Education City Stadium as they brushed aside some early pressure from South Korea. The first goal was bundled in by Salisu in the 24th minute after South Korea failed to clear a cross into the box. The second was a delicate glancing header from the 22-year-old Kudus, who has been on fine form for his club, Ajax, this season.   South Korea fought back in the second half with two almost identical headers from Cho Guesung as they threatened to cause another incredible World Cup comeback. Early second-half changes breathed new life into South Korea’s attack, and Lee Kangin had barely been on the field for a minute when he helped dispossess Tariq Lamptey and fired in a cross that Cho attacked with pace, leaving Salisu watching as he got in front of his marker to power home a 58th-minute header.