Netherlands and Argentina face off on Friday and Memphis Depay has has given his verdict on the Netherlands’ World Cup quarter-final clash, saying it might come down to a moment of magic.
Barcelona duo Memphis and Frenkie de Jong are both eyeing a semi-final spot in Qatar and the former is expecting a close game and admitted it could be decided by just an epiphanic moment of brilliance, like Dennis Bergkamp’s scintillating quarter-final winner at the 1998 World Cup.
“(Bergkamp’s goal) was an amazing moment for the country, and what a goal,” Depay said. xx “This game will be decided by moments. We believe we can catch a moment and go through.”
Memphis was also full of praise for manager Louis van Gaal who remains undefeated in his current spell as manager of the Netherlands.
“We haven’t lost a game yet and our discipline in the team has tightened up when he arrived, which is important in a tournament,” he said. xx “Everybody knows his vision, character, and that’s one of his biggest qualities to build a team. He’s a coach who’s very clear, he has a vision that’s clear to him and he brings it over to the group clearly.”
Memphis was on target last time out against the Netherlands, taking his tally to 15 goals in 17 matches since Van Gaal returned as boss in August 2021.