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Van Gaal: Netherlands lost the plot against France
Alex Fisher
Mar 5, 2014 11:45:00 PM
The Oranje coach was disappointed in his side's poor performance in Paris and insists they must improve before this year's World Cup
Netherlands "lost the plot" during their 2-0 defeat to France on Wednesday, according to coach Louis van Gaal.
A lacklustre performance in Paris saw Netherlands suffer their first defeat in 18 matches, a run that stretches all the way back to August 2012.
The 2010 World Cup runners-up only forced Hugo Lloris into one save in the whole 90 minutes, with Robin van Persie often looking isolated in attack.
Karim Benzema and Blaise Matuidi scored the all-important goals, but the Real Madrid striker had two other chances to score in a first-half dominated by the hosts.
And Van Gaal knows his side have to improve quickly ahead of the World Cup in Brazil this summer.
"For 25 minutes we were the better team, but after the goal we lost the plot," Van Gaal said after the game.
"France have a very good team, but I don't think we should have lost. We lost the ball too many times in midfield.
"It was not the most experienced team, and it was a better second-half with more tactical discipline.
"In the second-half we still created a few chances, at least more than in the first-half, but by then it was already too late.
"We have to show something else in Brazil."
Netherlands have two friendlies remaining, against Ecuador and Wales, before the side's World Cup opener against Spain on June 13 in a repeat of the 2010 final.
