“This coach is dumb” – Netherlands fans question Louis van Gaal for refusing to name 28-year-old star in starting line-up for FIFA World Cup game against Ecuador

Netherlands fans have slammed Louis van Gaal for deciding against naming Memphis Depay in Holland's starting line-up to face Ecuador in the FIFA World Cup today (25 November).

The Netherlands got their 2022 FIFA World Cup off to a victorious start on Monday (21 November), beating Senegal 2-0. They will now look to make it two wins in two when they face Ecuador in their second group match today.

Ecuador notably go into the match on the back of a 2-0 victory over tournament hosts Qatar. Both sides have the opportunity to confirm their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup today.

With less than an hour to go until kick-off, the Netherlands have announced their starting line-up for the match. Van Gaal has made three changes to the team that beat Senegal earlier this week.

Jurrien Timber has notably taken Matthijs de Ligt's place in Holland's three-man defense. Teun Koopmeiners has replaced Steven Berghuis in midfield, while Davy Klaassen has come in for Vincent Janssen.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has opted to leave Barcelona forward Depay on the bench once again. The Dutchman had an injury in the days leading up to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but is available for team selection now.

Van Gaal has nevertheless decided against taking a risk with Depay by leaving him on the bench. The news, though, has not gone down well among the Oranje faithful. One fan wrote on Twitter:

Here are some more reactions to Van Gaal refusing to name Depay in his starting XI to face Ecuador:

Van Gaal brought Depay on for Janssen in the 62nd minute of the Netherlands' FIFA World Cup opener against Senegal on Monday. He is expected to use the Barcelona attacker as a substitute again today.

How are Ecuador lining up against the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup?

While Van Gaal has made three changes to his team, Ecuador has made just one change to the starting line-up that beat Qatar last weekend. Romario Ibarra has notably dropped to the bench, with Jackson Porozo taking his place.

It is worth noting that Ibarra is a 28-year-old winger, who plies his trade for Mexican club CF Pachuca. Porozo, on the other hand, is a young centre-back who plays for French club Troyes.

Ecuador thus appear to be taking a more pragmatic approach against the Dutchmen today. It now remains to be seen if it will help them earn a positive result against Van Gaal and Co.

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

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