<p>Cody Gakpo scored again as the Netherlands booked their place in the World Cup last 16 as group winners with a straightforward 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The Netherlands, needing just a point to be sure of progressing, put one foot in the next round inside the first half-hour as Gakpo scored for a third straight group game.</p>.<p>Frenkie de Jong added another in the 49th minute as the Dutch cruised through in a flat atmosphere at the Al Bayt Stadium.</p>.<p>Qatar, already eliminated before kick-off, suffered the ignominy of becoming the first home team in World Cup history to finish the group stage without a point.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/brazil-confirm-neymars-absence-against-cameroon-1166873.html">Brazil confirm Neymar's absence against Cameroon</a></strong></p>.<p>Louis van Gaal's Dutch side ended with seven points at the top of Group A, while Senegal joined them in the knockout phase as runners-up after beating Ecuador 2-1.</p>.<p>The Oranje will next take on the second-placed team from Group B for a quarter-final spot at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday.</p>.<p>England currently top that section and face Wales later on Tuesday, while the United States play Iran. All four teams are still in the hunt for qualification.</p>.<p>The Dutch have made a solid start as they look to put the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia firmly behind them.</p>.<p>Qatar signed off from their long-awaited home World Cup with a whimper, securing their place in the record books as the worst ever hosts on the pitch.</p>.<p>Van Gaal was able to give Memphis Depay his first start of the tournament as the Barcelona star continued his return to full fitness after a hamstring injury.</p>.<p>It did not take the Dutch long to slice through the Qatar defence, although Daley Blind could only scuff a fourth-minute attempt straight at goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.</p>.<p>The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute as Davy Klaassen played in Gakpo after a neat move also involving Depay.</p>.<p>The PSV Eindhoven winger drove forward and drilled a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to score his third goal of the tournament.</p>.<p>The three-time World Cup runners-up took advantage of shoddy Qatar defending to double their advantage four minutes after the break.</p>.<p>Depay was denied from close range by Barsham but De Jong reacted quicker than a ponderous Pedro Miguel to poke the ball home from barely a yard out.</p>.<p>Substitute Steven Berghuis thought he had added a third midway through the second half, only for his goal to be ruled out after a VAR check for a handball by Gakpo in the build-up.</p>.<p>There was brief excitement for the remaining home supporters late on when Mohammed Muntari prodded the ball into the net, but the whistle had long since gone for a foul on Virgil van Dijk.</p>.<p>The Netherlands almost piled more misery onto Qatar in stoppage time when Berghuis' excellent curling strike from range hit the crossbar.</p>
<p>Cody Gakpo scored again as the Netherlands booked their place in the World Cup last 16 as group winners with a straightforward 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The Netherlands, needing just a point to be sure of progressing, put one foot in the next round inside the first half-hour as Gakpo scored for a third straight group game.</p>.<p>Frenkie de Jong added another in the 49th minute as the Dutch cruised through in a flat atmosphere at the Al Bayt Stadium.</p>.<p>Qatar, already eliminated before kick-off, suffered the ignominy of becoming the first home team in World Cup history to finish the group stage without a point.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/brazil-confirm-neymars-absence-against-cameroon-1166873.html">Brazil confirm Neymar's absence against Cameroon</a></strong></p>.<p>Louis van Gaal's Dutch side ended with seven points at the top of Group A, while Senegal joined them in the knockout phase as runners-up after beating Ecuador 2-1.</p>.<p>The Oranje will next take on the second-placed team from Group B for a quarter-final spot at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday.</p>.<p>England currently top that section and face Wales later on Tuesday, while the United States play Iran. All four teams are still in the hunt for qualification.</p>.<p>The Dutch have made a solid start as they look to put the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia firmly behind them.</p>.<p>Qatar signed off from their long-awaited home World Cup with a whimper, securing their place in the record books as the worst ever hosts on the pitch.</p>.<p>Van Gaal was able to give Memphis Depay his first start of the tournament as the Barcelona star continued his return to full fitness after a hamstring injury.</p>.<p>It did not take the Dutch long to slice through the Qatar defence, although Daley Blind could only scuff a fourth-minute attempt straight at goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.</p>.<p>The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute as Davy Klaassen played in Gakpo after a neat move also involving Depay.</p>.<p>The PSV Eindhoven winger drove forward and drilled a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to score his third goal of the tournament.</p>.<p>The three-time World Cup runners-up took advantage of shoddy Qatar defending to double their advantage four minutes after the break.</p>.<p>Depay was denied from close range by Barsham but De Jong reacted quicker than a ponderous Pedro Miguel to poke the ball home from barely a yard out.</p>.<p>Substitute Steven Berghuis thought he had added a third midway through the second half, only for his goal to be ruled out after a VAR check for a handball by Gakpo in the build-up.</p>.<p>There was brief excitement for the remaining home supporters late on when Mohammed Muntari prodded the ball into the net, but the whistle had long since gone for a foul on Virgil van Dijk.</p>.<p>The Netherlands almost piled more misery onto Qatar in stoppage time when Berghuis' excellent curling strike from range hit the crossbar.</p>