AL RAYYAN- Memphis Depay and Daley Blind scored in the first half and Denzil Dumfries added a late goal as the Netherlands eliminated the United States from the World Cup with a 3-1 victory on Saturday that advanced the Dutch to the quarterfinals.
Second-half substitute Haji Wright cut the U.S. deficit to 2-1 in the 76th minute when Christian Pulisic’s cross hit his trailing foot and popped over goalkeeper Andries Noppert and into the net. But Dumfries, who assisted on the first two goals, scored on a volley in the 81st.
Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010, the Oranje extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games and face Argentina or Australia on Friday.
Rested France Faces Poland
France, the reigning World Cup champions, has been warned by coach Didier Deschamps not to underestimate Poland and star Robert Lewandowski in the knockout round Sunday.
Les Blues breezed through the group stage and clinched a spot in the round of 16 with a game to spare, which allowed Deschamps to rest his stars in France’s meaningless final first round game. Nine substitutes started in the 1-0 loss to Tunisia, and Adrien Rabiot, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Antonie Griezmann all came off the bench late in the game.
France, with fresh legs, is the overwhelming favorite to beat Poland and is the first defending World Cup champion to reach the round of 16 since Brazil in 2006. France is 5-0 in the first knockout round since the stage was introduced to the World Cup in 1986.
England Take On Senegal
England plays Senegal on Sunday after topping Group B and tying Spain as leading scorers in the tournament with nine goals.
No other team picked up more than the seven points England recorded on its way to the knockout round and it is only one of three still undefeated.
Yet the message from coach Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane this week has been about maintaining focus and standards.
Belgium and Germany were high-profile departures from the group stage, while defending champion France, along with Argentina, Spain, Brazil and Portugal have all been on the wrong end of upsets.
And to think England’s 0-0 draw with the United States was considered enough of a shock that it prompted loud jeers from Three Lions fans after that match last week.
AP’s World Cup Team Of Group Stage
Writers covering the World Cup for The Associated Press have chosen their standout players at the tournament so far to form a best team of the group stage.
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny (Poland)
Right Back: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Left Back: Alphonso Davies (Canada)
Center Back: Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
Center Back: Harry Souttar (Australia)
Midfielder: Casemiro (Brazil)
Midfielder: Antoine Griezmann (France)
Midfielder: Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
Forward: Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Forward: Kylian Mbappé (France)
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