SOMETIMES, you have to look backwards to go forwards. That seems to be the thinking with the Netherlands as they attempt to move on from a disappointing showing at Euro 2020, when a last-16 defeat to the Czech Republic resulted in the departure of head coach Frank de Boer.

Louis van Gaal was installed as de Boer’s replacement, with the former Manchester United boss taking charge of his home nation for a third time, and his first move was to abandon de Boer’s tactical masterplan and reinstall the 3-4-3 formation that served him so well as he led the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-finals in 2014. It worked then, and he will be hoping it works again.

The draw has certainly been kind to the Dutch, with hosts Qatar easily the weakest of the seeded nations and neither Ecuador nor Senegal likely to pose too much of a threat.

The Netherlands’ main strength is their defence, with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk set to play alongside Manchester City’s Nathan Ake and Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt. Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong is the fulcrum in midfield, and while the absence of a natural number nine has been an issue for a while now, Memphis Depay continues to lead the line effectively.

A lack of depth outside the established first XI is a concern, but the Dutch should cruise through the group, and provided they win it, they will face the runners-up from England’s group in the last 16.

They are not involved in the game’s opening fixture, with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador in the Al Bayt Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Qatar will be making their World Cup debut this weekend – they are the only side in the competition’s history to have secured a debut appearance by virtue of being hosts – and while they beat Saudi Arabia and Japan en route to winning the Asia Cup in 2019, their current World ranking of 49 provides a decent summation of their status. Avoiding the ignominy of finishing at the foot of the group would be an achievement.

Ecuador will be hoping to spoil their opening-day party, with their head coach, Gustavo Alfaro, having relied heavily on youth during a South American qualification process that saw them secure an automatic spot in fourth position.

Brighton’s Moses Caceido is a key figure in the Ecuadorian midfield, but they continue to rely heavily on veteran striker Enner Valencia, who is set to lead the line despite having turned 33 earlier this month. With their toughest two games rounding it off the group, it is surely imperative they take at least something from their meeting with Qatar.

Their final game against Senegal could prove a qualification shootout, although Senegal’s hopes rest heavily on the wellbeing, or otherwise, of Sadio Mane.

Mane was named in the Senegal squad despite having limped out of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen at the start of the month, but amid talk of witch doctors being used to try to get him to the tournament, his fitness situation remains unclear.

If he is fit and firing, Senegal harbour realistic hopes of making the last 16, with Chelsea duo Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly shoring up the backline and a midfield likely to feature Nampalys Mendy and Idrissa Gueye set to contain plenty of bite. Take Mane out though, and this is a Senegalese side that would be severely lacking in firepower.