Depay chokes off the Dutch luxury debate

It was standard stadium routine. "Goal scorer to 1-0," the man at the microphone yelled in English through the speakers: "Meeeeeeeeemphiiiiiissssss". But where a loud "depay" should have come from the fans in the Khalifa Arena, it remained largely silent. On the one hand, this was because the supporters of the Netherlands were significantly outnumbered compared to those of the USA. On the other hand, something unusual happened at the start of the round of 16 at the Winter World Cup in Qatar.

The message from the stadium announcer was definitely groundbreaking. Depay, one of the most important players in the Dutch team and recently condemned to inactivity with a few injuries, was able to celebrate his first goal in these title fights. He not only opened the door with his goal to make it 1-0 in the 3-1 win over the USA. He also symbolized the team's hope that these title fights can still go a long way - maybe even to the final.

When he completed a wonderful combination with a sequence of passes over 20 stations, this was also a small message to all the critics who had seen “Oranje” as too wait-and-see and unspectacular in the course of the World Cup so far. "We're in the quarterfinals. If you win, you have friends," Dutch striker legend Marco van Basten told NOS. And the World Cup runner-up in 2010, Rafael van der Vaart, said after Elftal's commanding victory: "It's a team that's on the pitch there. Let's all talk – we're in the quarter-finals.” There's a duel with Argentina next Friday (8:00 p.m.) – and with it a football classic.

In order to be able to rely on Depay in this game as well, coach Louis van Gaal deviated from his principles before the tournament started. Normally, the 71-year-old only nominates players who are completely fit. He made an exception for Depay, who had been sidelined for two months with thigh problems. He knew that the striker could still be immensely important. And so he gradually introduced him: Depay was allowed to play 28 minutes against Senegal, 46 against Ecuador, 66 against Qatar and now 83 against the USA.

The fact that the star is now fully available again in the service of FC Barcelona should have encouraged van Gaal in his approach. Because with Depay, the team develops a completely different penetrating power than without the stocky and fast exceptional attacker.

Depay made it clear in a few scenes in the round of 16 that he can pose problems for many opponents with his power, speed and goal threat. Alongside defender Virgil van Dijk and midfield strategist Frenkie de Jong, the man who has scored 43 goals in 85 internationals is indispensable for van Gaal. "We need Memphis to become world champions," said the Bonds coach during the preliminary round. "With him, I decide. It all depends on what I see. Memphis has to deliver too.”

He has now done so in an impressive way and thus nurtured the dream of Elftal winning their first title. And by the way, the numerous critics in the country are initially in a mild mood.