Wright Vows to Return Even Stronger for 2019 World Cup
Scotland were done over by the Doubles Dutch as they were left with Betway World Cup heartbreak.
Gary Anderson and Peter Wright lost the final to Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 in Frankfurt on Sunday.
It was level-pegging in the showpiece but the turning point was the third rubber pairs clash which The Netherlands won comfortably to put them in control. MVG then whitewashed Ando to defend their World Cup title.
Anderson said: “Scotland and the Netherlands in the World Cup final, you won’t see that in the football!
“It’s been a great. The player of the tournament has been young Dimitri Van den Bergh, he’s been fantastic.
“We are obviously gutted we couldn’t get one more win. But the doubles win swung it their way. If we could have sneaked that win, it could have been a different story. It wasn’t to be and fair play to them, they deserved it.
Wright added: “We had a really good time Gary and I and the fans were brilliant here. It should have been our World Cup, I mucked up. I’ll be back next year and I won’t make the same mistakes.”
In a race to three points, it was a tense start as Wright came back from 2-0 down to go level with MVG. But the Dutchman went up a gear to win 4-2 and first blood to the Dutch.
But it was soon level as Anderson piled in five 180s to leave Barney hopes in rubble, taking the second rubber 4-1 and it was 1-1 overall.
The turning point was the pairs and it was all about the doubles Dutch. Barney took out a brilliant 135 to put them 2-0 up but Ando gave hope with his own classy 127 kill to keep it alive.
However a double eight from Barney - after Wright had missed three at double 16 - won the pairs for the Dutch and now Anderson had the daunting task of having to beat MVG to keep the Dartan Army’s hopes alive.
But it never looked likely. Anderson started in a sluggish manner and when MVG broke his throw it was soon all over, Van Gerwen winning 4-0 and the Netherlands wrapping up their fourth title in eight years.
MVG said: “I just said to Ray I think we both played phenomenal. Anything that we had to do, we did it. We did all the right things at the right time. That’s what makes you a champion.
“Any tournament that you are competing in you want to win, simple as that. The World Cup is always a bit extra special.”
Barney added: “Gary played amazing in the singles match against me, I only had five minutes to prepare for the pairs. But we always do well in the pairs.
“But playing with this guy Michael, he makes it look so easy. But you need a team partner. We are really proud to take this fourth title.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)