VAN GAAL’S NETHERLANDS ARE POISED TO ADVANCE IN THE WORLD CUP IN QATAR.

Netherlands is close to advancing to the round of 16 at the World Cup and is the clear favorite to defeat Qatar in Tuesday’s last Group A encounter.

If the Netherlands win, it will draw attention to coach Louis van Gaal, 71, who came out of retirement to take over the team while undergoing serious prostate cancer treatment less than a year ago.

Qatar, the host nation, has lost its first two games and has already lost the opportunity to advance from the group stage.

After failing to qualify for the World Cup four years ago, the Netherlands will advance with a draw and be back in the World Cup picture. If Ecuador defeats Senegal in the other Group A match, the Netherlands might even advance despite suffering a defeat.

The Netherlands would play one of the top two teams from Group B in the round of 16, with England being the clear favorite over Iran, Wales, and the United States.

Even though few consider this to be one of the Netherlands’ top squads, Van Gaal claimed before the World Cup that the country can win it all.

The outspoken Van Gaal earlier this year called the World Cup’s location in the tiny nation of 3 million-people, Qatar, “ridiculous.” Natural gas and oil are the sources of Qatar’s enormous wealth.

Van Gaal added, “It’s absurd that we’re going to play in a country to, what does FIFA say? —- grow football there. Qatar is too small and lacks a football culture.

But it’s irrelevant. It has to do with money and business concerns. FIFA is concerned with it, Van Gaal continued.