Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal says the criticism of his team will not distract them from trying to win the World Cup.

The Dutch beat Senegal and Qatar 2-0 and drew 1-1 with Ecuador in the group stages, but some have accused them of not being attacking enough., external

Van Gaal's side play the United States in the last 16 on Saturday (1500 GMT).

"In 2014 it was exactly the same, it was not different. It was very negative," said Van Gaal.

"But, exact same thing now, same old, so I'm used to it and I think my players are also used to it.

"We're going to calmly continue on the path that we've embarked on."

Under Van Gaal, the Dutch lost to Argentina on penalties in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The USA drew 1-1 with Wales and impressed in a goalless game with England before beating Iran 1-0 to progress to the last 16.

"They [USA] have an excellent team, I would say even one of the best teams," added Van Gaal.

"It will be a tough match, but it's nothing we can't overcome. We also have a good team.

"But I'm not going to downplay the USA. I think they're an example of what a good team is.

"There are teams who have progressed who are not good teams, but who have great individual quality."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Khalifa International Stadium

Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has defended his tactics after criticism has followed his side's performances so far in Qatar.

I watched two of their three group matches in person and was very underwhelmed.

Speaking to Dutch supporters around the Khalifa International Stadium before kick-off, they haven't been too impressed either.

"We're too defensive", "we don't score enough", "we are not ruthless" are the general lines of comment.

But this is tournament football after all. The Dutch came through their group with ease and it's knockout football now. Win at all costs.

Would it matter if they were to scrape through to the final? I doubt it.

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Nielsen Gracenote

The third ranked team on Gracenote's world ranking, the Netherlands takes on 18th ranked USA in today's first match.

The Dutch have risen nine places on our world ranking this year and are unbeaten in manager Louis van Gaal's third spell in charge.

The team's last defeat was under Frank de Boer at this stage of last year's European Championship, against the Czech Republic. Since then, the Dutch have won 13 matches and drawn five.

Some gripping football on the pitch, but still pressing issues off it.

Let's not let one distract from the other.

Here is a reminder of some of the controversies surrounding this World Cup, as BBC Analysis editor Ros Atkins looks at how Qatar won the hosting rights, as well as the human rights and environmental issues surrounding the tournament...

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

The door is ajar for Jesus Ferreira so it's down to him to show his manager what he can do. I know that he's incredibly quick and direct as well.

He'll want to take on the back three of the Netherlands and they've got energy, a lot of energy in midfield and they'll just have to get in those final thirds as much as they possibly can because when it comes to a game of football, Netherlands should win this one but energy wise, USA will make it difficult for them.

I'm not expecting this to be cagey, I don't think you can be at this stage of the competition, if you're cagey, you tend to get jabbed on the chin and you find yourself in the corner all the time, continually defending I don't think it will be cagey.

Anna Holligan
BBC News, The Hague

'Tis season to deck the halls with boughs of holly, but Dutch homes are bedazzled with orange bunting, flags and banners proclaiming, 'Hup Holland Hup!'.

The World Cup is providing a source of escapism, and optimism in a nation immersed in a cost of living crisis.

In his pre-match press conference national coach Louis Van Gaal noted the USA side had evolved, and yet the disciplined Dutch are hot favourites to progress.

But Oranje are being urged to take the heat out of the game and play boring, "Let the Americans" rage one Dutch commentator urged.

This sentiment has been echoed by Dutch footballing legend Marco Van Basten who encouraged the players to "focus on routine to distract from the tensions".

For the practical, pragmatic Dutch the most beautiful part of this game may be a winning scoreline.

BBC Radio 5 Live

More from former USA midfielder Stuart Holden: "The midfield is the core of our team. I think we have one of the strongest midfields, youngest midfields and highest energy midfields that has covered more ground than any other team in this competition.

"I still think there are ways in which we can create goals from wide areas and get production as we have from Christian Pulisic on the left and Timothy Weah on that right hand side."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Khalifa International Stadium

The DJ at The Khalifa International Stadium playing to the gallery at USA v Netherlands with a bit of Van Halen's "Panama" following the staple of every World Cup and many more besides, AC/DC's "Thunderstruck".

I applaud his good taste.

Speaking of Leeds, their midfielder Tyler Adams has been one of the standouts for the USA in this tournament.

He's not the kind of player to do flashy things like Cody Gakpo, but the defensive midfielder has a sixth sense for danger and the combative edge to snuff it out.

He also runs. Lots.

Not only does he diffuse situations on the pitch, he's a dab hand at it off the pitch too, as you can see in his answer to an Iranian journalist who challenged his pronunciation of Iran and questioned him about his captaincy of a country "that has so much discrimination against black people in its borders"...

The undoubted star of the show for the Dutch so far has been forward Cody Gakpo, who has scored three goals - one in each of the three games so far.

It continues his fine goalscoring form this season, with the PSV player having scored 13 and assisted another 17 goals in his 24 club appearances to date in 2022-23.

According to Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, his club were "99.9%" close to signing the player in January. But as the American admits, he is likely beyond the Whites' budget now! He could yet rub more salt in Marsch's wounds by helping knock out his compatriots this afternoon.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former USA midfielder Stuart Holden speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was the biggest concern for this USA team, where would the goals come from in terms of a striker? We just don't have anybody that has emerged in that position.

"There was some controversy even selecting a striker for this team. Some, including myself, think at times we might be better playing with that false nine type role. Pulisic has played it for Chelsea, Brendan Aaronson has played it for Leeds. We have guys that could drop underneath which might be key today against this Dutch defence."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Khalifa International Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

It's another hot day in Qatar as larger groups of fans started to arrive at the Khalifa International Stadium around three hours before kick-off.

Today marks the start of the knockout stages so a number of supporters I've spoken to in the last few days are due to fly home very soon - many came for the entire group stages.

Will they book on a few more days if they make it through to the quarter-finals?

Image source, BBC Sport

America started brilliantly in their opening game, taking a 1-0 lead over Wales, but failed to keep up their display or hold on to the advantage, with Gareth Bale's penalty ensuring a draw...

It was another draw in game two, with the US frustrating England in a dour encounter, in which they probably had the better chances...

On Tuesday, Christian Pulisic's goal ensured their progress, sealing victory over Iran in the final group game...

The Netherlands began with a 2-0 win over England's last-16 opponents Senegal, but it took goals in the last 10 minutes to secure the points...

They followed that with a 1-1 draw with Ecuador, in which they took an early lead but failed to hold on to it...

They ensured top spot with a comfortable 2-0 win over hosts Qatar on Tuesday...

Let's remind ourselves how each of these sides reached this stage of the competition...

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Khalifa International Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

I met two Dutch friends as we travelled into the Khalifa International Stadium. They have known each other for 30 years and have been to several major tournaments.

Gys, the man on the left in the photo, actually lived in Folkstone and Eastbourne for six months while working for an insurance company.

They support their local team, De Graafschap, who compete in the second tier of Dutch football. It averages around 8,000 fans a match, says Gys, and the atmosphere is "amazing, very good".

His friend, Frank, said they like watching Frenkie de Jong play for the national team and Memphis Depay - though he can "sometimes be up and down".

I asked if they had seen all of the Dutch matches in Qatar.

"We saw the last game, this one and we will be here for our next one..." said Gys.

"You're very confident of winning today then?" I asked. "Oh, yes, absolutely!" said Gys.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Khalifa International Stadium

Louis van Gaal has named the same team who beat Qatar in the Netherlands' final group match.

It means Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, Manchester City's Nathan Ake and Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong all start again.

Cody Gakpo has scored in all three matches for the Netherlands at the World Cup.

Netherlands XI: Noppert, Timber, Van Dijk, Ake, Gakpo, Depay, Klaassen, De Roon, Blind, De Jong, Dumfries.

There are two changes for the United States from their narrow victory over Iran.

Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers drops to the bench, replaced by Walker Zimmerman.

Norwich forward Josh Sargent is injured so Jesus Ferreira starts in attack alongside Chelsea's Christian Pulisic.

USA XI: Turner, Dest, Zimmerman, Adams, Robinson, Musah, McKennie, Ferreira, Pulisic, Ream, Weah.

Today's first last-16 tie at the Khalifa International Stadium is live on BBC One and on BBC Radio 5 Live, both of which you can get via this very page by using the relevant play buttons at the top.

Image source, Getty Images

But now it gets real.

The knockout rounds. Fifteen games (plus a third-place playoff to decide the next world champions.

We start with a fascinating contest, one ripe for a bit of a shock.

The Netherlands, the established big boys, are three-time runners-up in the World Cup, semi-finalists twice. They topped Group A this time around, with two wins and a draw.

The USA, the plucky upstart (in football terms), have only twice ever made it past the last 16, those coming in the first ever World Cup in 1930 and in South Korea and Japan in 2002.

The way the two have played, though, with the Dutch good but not great and the US practising the kind of high-energy, high-pressing that can get opponents in a mess, you do wonder if we could be in for more fun.

Image source, Getty Images