Louis van Gaal battles against boring tag as Netherlands plot route to final

Coach's Oranje can be scintillating but going into the last-16 tie with the USA they are yet to dazzle for a full 90 minutes

What is cute game management and what is boring football? This has become the existential question of Louis van Gaal's third Netherlands tenure as he plots a route to the World Cup final.

It was the narrative before and after Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Qatar that sealed a serene passage to Saturday's last-16 showdown with the USA and, frankly, it is annoying him. When one inquisitor wondered if fans deserved more sparkling fare the man known as the Iron Tulip showed his metal. Why don't you write it's boring? I don't think things are as bad as you say," he countered.