The showdown is decided: The Netherlands have clinched the direct World Cup ticket Louis van Gaal, who watched the game from an unusual perspective, was all the more relieved.
A handicapped Louis van Gaal watched the tough 93 minutes from the stands, but the self-proclaimed party animal didn’t miss the party in the dressing room afterwards: At the last minute, the Netherlands clinched a direct ticket to the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 win over Norway – and without the Bondscoach on the sidelines.
The 70-year-old van Gaal had broken a hip bone in a bicycle accident and thus took a seat in a wheelchair in the VIP area of the deserted Rotterdam stadium De Kuip. Nevertheless, the former Bayern coach coached from a distance with his mobile phone and notepad and was in constant contact with his assistants on the sidelines – with success. Thanks to late goals from Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay, Oranje won the lacklustre match and emerged as the big (group) winners from the heart-stopping Group G final.
Eased Elftal
“We got to know each other even better through the ups and downs,” summed up van Gaal. Despite the sobering 2:2 against Montenegro that had set up the showdown between the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey, the coach spoke of a “fantastic week”.
Relief also spread among the players after the final whistle, as a Twitter video of the Elftal shows. “We are back, that’s great. Viva Hollandia “, the eleven, who were desperate to avoid déjà vu after their heavily criticised miss at the 2018 World Cup, sang in the dressing room. Alongside the video, Oranje also released a team photo. In the midst of the celebrating players: a wheelchair-bound Louis van Gaal smiling with clenched fists. A beast of a party.
