Clash for third place in WC between Dutch, Brazil is 'meaningless', says Van Gaal

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has criticized his side's upcoming match against Brazil for the third-place as meaningless and 'nothing whatsoever to do with sports'.

Van Gaal, whose side lost 4-2 in penalty shootouts after the 120 minutes ended in a 0-0 deadlock against Argentina, said that he feels that their match against Brazil should never be played.

The Dutchman said that he has been saying this for 10 years, but added that they would have to play that match anyway, Sport24 reported.

Van Gaal said that there were a number of things that he did not like about the match, but the one that really grated with him is that a team faces the possibility of going home off back-to-back losses after doing so well and making the last four of a World Cup.

Van Gaal said that the worst thing he believes is that chances are that one loses twice in a row, adding that a tournament where a team has played so marvelously well and then it goes home as a loser just because they could possibly lose the last two matches.

Meanwhile, Netherlands forward Arjen Robben said that Brazil could keep the third place, adding that only prize counts and that is becoming the world champion.