U.S. coach to draw on Dutch lessons at World Cup

DOHA, QATAR >> Gregg Berhalter felt like a student when he signed with the Dutch club Zwolle 28 years ago. The U.S. coach plans to apply the lessons he learned when the Americans play the Netherlands on Saturday for a berth in the World Cup quarterfinals.

“I went to Holland just out of university and (was) totally unprepared for professional level soccer,” Berhalter said Friday. “If I wasn’t in Holland, I don’t think I would have had that building that really helped shape my ideas.”

Now 49, Berhalter will match tactics against Louis van Gaal, at 71 the oldest coach in the World Cup. Van Gaal guided the Netherlands to third place in the 2014 tournament and has won seven league titles with Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

That success means little to the Oranje’s demanding fanbase.

“If I have to believe the Dutch media, we’ll never become world champion,” Van Gaal said in Dutch. “In 2014 it was exactly the same. Extremely negative. Now it’s the same all over again. I am used to it, and I think my players are used to it, so we will calmly move on.”

Then he added playfully in English: “Maybe you can take now a picture after this declaration.” He smiled and said: “Cheese.” Van Gaal, who is out of contract after the World Cup, deflected questions about whether he would coach in Africa or replace Roberto Martinez, who parted ways with Belgium after his team was eliminated Thursday.

“You got to convince my wife,” he said.

RICARDO MAZALAN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Head coach Gregg Berhalter of the United States celebrates after the World Cup group B match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday.