Netherlands – Ecuador

Dutch players are eager to win

The teams in Group A of the World Cup played both their matches sensationally and finished with victories for the favourites. Another thing is that the content of the matches was completely different. While the meeting between Ecuador and Qatar was equal only in episodes when the South American representative played to hold the score, Senegal played with the quartet favourite almost on equal terms, allowing the Orange to win only by class. Ahead of the second leg, bookmakers are pricing the Netherlands' entry into the playoffs at a paltry 1.01, with Ecuador at 1.32 and Senegal at 3.20. The Qatari team has had their confidence shattered by their defeat in the first leg, so they are already at a whopping 30 odds. The Netherlands did experience difficulties on Monday against Senegal. In the first half, the African team did not lose, but even outclassed the favourites in some statistical indicators and created slightly more realistic chances to implement. However, in the second half, Sadio Mane, who is missing the Mundial, was joined on the sidelines by some of Senegal's best players, Abdou Diallo and Cheikhou Kouyate, while goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made a fatal error on the outlet, which led to Gakpo's winning goal. The mood of Louis van Gaal's men is likely to be positive and combative ahead of the second meeting of the tournament. It cannot be said that Ecuador have passed the real test at the start of the World Cup. The South American side came into the game against the hosts with maximum spirit, at the expense of which they punished their opponents in the first half with three goals, two of which were scored. Valencia, whom the Qatari players beat mercilessly at the feet during the first half, was the author of the double. In the upcoming game, Ecuador will face a completely different level of opposition in every area of the pitch. "It is certainly important for the Oranje to win the second meeting of the group to take the final first place. The team that finished second in Group A will most likely be forced to play England in the 1/8 final of the playoffs, which does not bode well. In this regard, the Dutch attitude will be as serious as possible and designed for three points.