Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen delivered a statement performance during the group stage of the 2025 World Cup of Darts, storming through Group A with two emphatic 4-0 victories over Italy and Hungary. Team Netherlands topped the group with ease, booking their place in the second round without dropping a single leg.
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After sealing a second consecutive whitewash, the pair spoke with Sportnieuws.nl to reflect on their dominant form and look ahead to the challenges that lie ahead.
“Losing legs? No, we don’t do that,” Van Veen laughed. “That’s for other countries.”
Still, the rising Dutch star tempered the hype slightly, acknowledging the context of their second win.
“Yesterday we played really well. But to be fair, Hungary had already lost 4-0 to Italy,” he said.
His teammate, Noppert, agreed that the pressure had eased by Friday.
“We knew we were in good shape, but of course it’s always a bonus to get through the group without losing a leg.”
Gian van Veen debuts at this year's World Cup of Darts
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Fresh and Focused for the Knockouts
Having spent minimal time on stage, the Dutch duo head into the weekend with confidence — and fresh legs.
“100 percent,” Van Veen said. “Hopefully it’s going to be a long weekend. We’ve done what we needed to today and we’re still feeling sharp.”
Clash with Scotland Looms
Attention soon turned to the draw, and a heavyweight matchup awaits. The Netherlands will face third seeds Scotland in the last 16, a team featuring former World Cup champions Gary Anderson and Peter Wright. The Scots lifted the trophy in 2019 (Anderson/Wright) and again in 2021 (Henderson/Wright).
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“I’ve actually never had a favourable draw,” Noppert joked. “But that’s fine — if you want to win this tournament, you have to beat whoever is in front of you.”
Van Veen echoed that fearless mentality:
“I don’t think any of the seeded nations are looking forward to playing us.” Noppert agreed: “No country, I think.”
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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