Van Gaal: How Finidi George Would Have Helped Holland Beat Argentina

Van Gaal: How Finidi George Would Have Helped Holland Beat Argentina

Ibitoye Shittu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:20 PM
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Louis van Gaal who is the head coach of Holland national team has explained that his side would have beaten Argentina in the World Cup quarterfinal if he had Nigerian star Finidi George in his squad.

Years back at Ajax, George and Vab Gaal had smooth working relationship in which they won the Champions League title in the 1994-95 league season.

Then, the Nigerian star was rated as on of the best wingers in the world because of his incredible performances for Ajax in all competition and even the Super Eagles.

Louis van Gaal, Finidi George, Holland, World Cup
Van Gaal: How Finidi George would have helped Holland beat Argentina. Photo by Richard Sellers
Source: Getty Images

Apart from winning the Champions League, George also won the Dutch title three times at Ajax.

End of the road for Holland

Holland's journey in the World Cup came to an end on Friday, 9 December, when they lost on penalties against Argentina in which Virgil van Dijk lost the first kick.

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According to the report on Soccernet, Van Gaal made it clear that Argentina had the advantage because his team was not having winger like George.

Statement made by Van Gaal

“Only we don’t have a right and left striker like I had at Ajax. No Overmars, no Finidi George. If we play football with wingers, it can only be done in plan B or C.''

Van Gaal speaks on Netherlands

Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Netherlands boss Louis Van Gaal took pride in the fact that his Dutch teams were yet to ever taste defeat in regular time as he revealed plans to walk away from the Dutch national team for the third time.

It was another bitter end to the Dutch’s World Cup hopes as they were knocked out via a penalty shootout, despite doing brilliantly to come from two goals down against Argentina.

In the thrilling encounter, Oranje somehow drew level after falling two goals behind, with Wout Weghorst’s brace forcing the game into extra time.

After the two sides failed to settle the game in extra time, it went down to penalties, and Netherlands fell short after Virgil Van Dijk and Steven Berghuis saw their efforts saved by Emiliano Martinez.

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Ibitoye Shittu
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