The Netherlands won Group A, ending Qatar’s wretched World Cup run with a third straight loss, as the in-form Cody Gakpo scored once more.
Due to their poor performance, Qatar became the first host nation to leave the competition after three group-stage losses, placing last and receiving 0 points.
The Netherlands, who didn’t make it four years ago, advance to the round of 16 with an undefeated record and will play the group’s runner-up
Senegal, the reigning African champions, defeated Ecuador to secure second place and a matchup with the group’s best team in the elimination round.
Gakpo, a winger for PSV Eindhoven, has now opened the scoring in each of the Netherlands’ three group games. On this occasion, he advanced and rasped a finish into the bottom corner.
Ismaeel Mohammad’s shot on the stretch from outside the area was direct at Andries Noppert as Qatar attempted to respond right away.
Frenkie de Jong scored for Louis van Gaal’s team at the opening of the second half to end Qatar’s hopes of a comeback after Memphis Depay’s attempt was saved.
Given that Steven Berghuis had a goal disallowed and also hit the crossbar, the Dutch may have won by a larger margin.
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The Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who serves as their captain, the pass-master De Jong in the center of the pitch, and the cool-headed finisher Gakpo up top make up their side’s powerful core.
The 23-year-old PSV player’s reputation also got a boost when he completed a team move following Davy Klaassen’s absence to become the first Dutch player to score in each of his first three World Cup matches.