Louis van Gaal, Head Coach of Netherlands, speaks to the media in the post match press conference after a penalty shoot out loss during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Netherlands and Argentina at Lusail Stadium on December 09, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Louis van Gaal quits as Netherlands manager – but claims “I don’t think I’ve been beaten today”

December 10, 2022 Sports 4 Views

Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal confirmed that his side’s defeat was the final match of his career.

Van Gaal had come out of retirement to manage the Dutch for a third spell, but is now 71 and recently battled cancer. Like at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, his team’s hopes of glory were ended by a shoot-out defeat to Argentina, as a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina triumphed over his Oranje side.

“I will not be continuing as head coach – I only did it for this term, so this was my very last match,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“I’ve had a wonderful time. It’s incredibly painful to see how we’ve been eliminated, particularly because I did everything I could to prevent it happen.

“In Brazil, I brought on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to win it in extra time, and I could have waited to make our final substitute, so we could bring on Tim Krul to play the penalty shoot-out in goal. Tonight, there’s nothing I could reproach myself for.”

LVG leaves the Netherlands for the third time having not lost a single match since the last time he faced Argentina in a World Cup game eight years ago. The Iron Tulip referenced that fact in his presser and admitted he didn’t feel like his side lost the game today.

“In 20 matches in charge, we didn’t lose a single game. I don’t know how many we won – you can find out I think on Google, put in ‘Dutch team, Louis van Gaal’. I don’t think I’ve been beaten today – only in a penalty shoot-out.”