LOUIS VAN GAAL

The hastily assembled American squad was a ragtag group that included a mailman, a grave digger, a dishwasher and a school teacher the first time the United States faced England at the World Cup.

Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal was taken by surprise at a World Cup news conference Thursday when a Senegalese reporter told the Dutchman he was a longtime admirer. The 71-year-old Van Gaal, sometimes viewed as a stern-faced, taciturn and obdurate figure in soccer, broke into a huge smile before responding. “I'm going to give you a big hug after this, because I like that you say this and I mean that seriously,” Van Gaal said through an interpreter.

The Netherlands pulled away from Senegal in the dying minutes of the match. Here are three takeaways from the "World Cup Now" crew.