The Netherlands put on a World Cup finishing masterclass to beat the USA 3-1 and advance to the quarter-finals on Saturday as Lionel Messi's Argentina prepared to take on Australia in a David v Goliath showdown.

The Dutch enjoyed less possession than the USA at the Khalifa International Stadium but handed out a painful lesson in finishing to their less-vaunted opponents.

First-half goals from Memphis Depay and Daley Blind and a late strike from Denzel Dumfries sealed a deserved victory for Louis van Gaal's team.

The Netherlands, bidding to win their first World Cup after losing in three previous finals, have flown under the radar in Qatar but are still unbeaten and will face Argentina or Australia in the last eight.

"We always want to improve and, since the start of the tournament, it's been getting better and better with each game," said Van Gaal.

The veteran coach said he had torn into his players at half-time, even though they were leading 2-0.

"We suffered in the first half, we were dispossessed so often and that's not acceptable at a World Cup," he said. "If you play like that against top countries you won't make it."

For the United States it was a familiar story — they enjoyed plenty of the ball but were hampered by the lack of a cutting edge.

USA coach Gregg Berhalter's men head home after scoring just three goals in their four matches.

Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic squandered a golden chance to put his team 1-0 up in the early minutes but his scuffed shot was saved by Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert.

The Netherlands took the lead in the 10th minute when Depay swept home to cap a majestic 20-pass move in the finest traditions of flowing Dutch football.

They doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time through Blind.

Substitute Haji Wright gave the Americans hope when his freak deflection from Pulisic's cross looped in at the far post in the 76th minute but the Netherlands restored their two-goal cushion five minutes later through Dumfries.