Holland use Charles Barkley as a source of unlikely motivation ahead of USA last-16 clash as team’s official Twitter account shares viral clip of NBA legend ‘guaranteeing’ the Dutch are ‘in trouble’ ahead of World Cup showdown
Holland’s motivation to beat the USA in their World Cup round-of-16 showdown today has come from an unlikely source: NBA legend Charles Barkley.
The US and the Dutch face off for a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament, with both sides having successfully navigated their way through the group stages in Qatar.
And after America booked its place in the latter stages of the competition, Barkley was quick to start the verbal jousting, insisting that ‘we opening a can of whoop a** cause I guarantee the Netherlands are in trouble.’
Holland’s Twitter account posted a clip previewing the game against the USA on Saturday
They mocked up a one-dollar US bill with the face of their manager Louis van Gaal on it
Charles Barkley created a storm earlier in the week by insisting the USA would beat Holland
That message went viral on Twitter, and quickly travelled across to Europe, where the Dutch team’s quick-thinking social media team have now used it to their advantage.
Posting a video to get fans in the mood on Saturday, they clipped up Barkley’s words, alongside the message: ‘In Louis we trust. In this team we trust.’
In the video, they have also doctored a one-dollar American bill to instead put their own manager’s face on, with Van Gaal replacing George Washington.
The Dutch are the favorites to beat America in the do-or-die last-16 showdown, but Gregg Berhalter’s side did impress throughout the group stages, beating Iran in their final match after credible draws against Wales and England.
The USA squad, including ex-Newcastle man DeAndre Yedlin (C), celebrate after beating Iran
The US team have performed admirably so far, but will go again against Holland later today
That has shot the USMNT into the public spotlight around the country, with more and more fans beginning to tune in to watch the World Cup.
Barkley, of course, is among those now following the squad’s progress, and in his comments on Inside the NBA on TNT, he added: ‘Hey Tyler, my man No. 12. We’re going for it all.
‘I want Spain. I want Brazil. I want Germany. I want France. Oh, they got that boy [Kylian] Mbappe over there in France. He ain’t no joke but we’re going to beat the Netherlands.’
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