sport news World Cup: Louis van Gaal says Holland 'can become world champions' after 3-1 ... trends now
Holland coach Louis van Gaal backed his side to go all the way and win the World Cup after they cruised into the quarter-final with a convincing 3-1 win over USA.
The former Manchester United and Barcelona boss admitted he was not totally happy with his side's performance, but that the goalscoring prowess of his unbeaten side had raised his confidence.
He said: 'We can become world champions. I am not saying that we will, but we can.
Holland reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup with an impressive win over the USA
Louis van Gaal says the performance adds confidence and that they can win the World Cup
'I have been talking about this for over a year and I derive a lot of pleasure from working with these players.
'That said, I was very critical at halftime with my players even though we were two goals in the lead.
'We can improve on the transition and keeping possession, but I have to say they were fantastic goals. The team goal (does he mean by Depay or Blind) was a thing of beauty.
'We suffered so much as we were dispossessed so often early on and that is not acceptable at a World Cup. If you play top-notch countries it is not acceptable.
'Nonetheless, we were all very pleased at the end and it gives us incredible confidence.
Van Gaal (left) though warned his side can't lost the ball so much against top opposition
'We will evaluate the match and then roll up our sleeves and work again. I cannot promise any more than that.
'Will our opponents change how they play against us after this? We will have to wait and see. I assume the stronger the country is the less they will adjust to our system. Team USA did not adjust and adapt and we based our plan on that
'I do not expect France, Spain and Argentina to adapt either so we have big chances here.'
At 71, Van Gaal is the oldest and most experienced coach in Qatar and was asked if he does not get the credit he deserves both for his long career and being unbeaten in 19 matches since he resumed his role as national coach seven years after leading Netherlands to the semi-finals in 2014.
He added: 'I get enough appreciation from the people surrounding me. I know the media do not always report in a positive way about me but that is a given in football. Some top countries did not progress and we have.'
With that van Gaal planted a kiss on Holland's man of the match Denzel Dumfries, who was asked by the American reporters about being named after Hollywood actor Denzel Washington.
The attacking right-back, 26, who has been linked with a switch from Inter Milan to Tottenham said: 'I do
