Time to focus on World Cup says Van Gaal

AL RAYYAN, Qatar : It's time to put the 'OneLove' debate and other controversies aside and focus on the World Cup, Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal said on Thursday as his team prepared to meet Ecuador in a contest that could decide top spot in Group A.

With the Netherlands and Ecuador both coming off 2-0 wins in their openers the meeting at Khalifa International Stadium on Friday carries added significance and Van Gaal does not want his men distracted from the task at hand.

The Netherlands were among seven countries ready to wear 'OneLove' armbands during the World Cup in Qatar until FIFA, world soccer's governing body, threatened to book any player wearing them.

The 'OneLove' armbands were originally launched in 2020 as part of an inclusiveness campaign by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) which said on Wednesday they were considering legal action against FIFA over their ruling.

Germany's players protested against FIFA's decision on Wednesday by covering their mouths before kickoff as a symbolic gesture and then went out and lost 2-1 to Japan.

Van Gaal said he did not know if the protest contributed to Germany's shock defeat only that he was not going to take the chance of anything distracting his men against Ecuador.

"No", said Van Gaal when asked if his team were planning any protest. "We put a full stop after all the political issues past Thursday.

"We have this purpose and we're not going to have that tarnished by the actions of FIFA or whichever other organisation.

"But I've already responded ... I think that's enough."

Defender Denzel Dumfries, who will have his hands full with Enner Valencia after the forward got both goals in Ecuador's 2-0 win over hosts Qatar, echoed Van Gaal's view, saying it was time for