The Netherlands have been eliminated from the World Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Morocco. The last-32 tie, held in Monterrey, Mexico, concluded with a 1-1 draw before Morocco secured a 3-2 victory in the shootout, advancing them to the last 16.
Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Dutch in the 72nd minute. The Liverpool attacker, playing alongside teammates Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk, found the net after a swift break forward, firing home a loose ball in the area. This goal led to emotional scenes from Gakpo, following the recent loss of his unborn son.
However, Morocco managed to level the score in the first minute of added time. Issa Diop headed in an equaliser, sending the match into extra time and eventually to penalties. The dramatic shootout saw Morocco prevail, setting up a clash with Canada in the next round.
Tactical Decisions and Equaliser
The match saw Ronald Koeman, the manager of the Netherlands, face scrutiny for his tactical approach. Koeman opted for a five-man back line, a setup that led his team to operate defensively for significant periods, often relying on counter-attacks. This strategy was noted by Morocco’s head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, who admitted his team was initially surprised by the Dutch formation.
Koeman defended his choices, stating that his team conceded less against a stronger opponent compared to their group stage matches against Sweden and Tunisia. He maintained that he would employ the same tactics again if faced with a similar situation, despite criticism that often arises when the Dutch concede an equaliser while playing with five defenders.
The equaliser came dramatically in the 90th minute. A cross found Issa Diop, whose header secured the goal and pushed the game into extra time. During the additional 30 minutes, Morocco created a significant opportunity when Soufiane Rahimi was one-on-one with Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Verbruggen made a crucial save, deflecting the shot from close range, which was described as a standout moment in the tournament.
Penalty Shootout and Future Outlook
Despite Verbruggen’s heroics during open play, he could not replicate them in the penalty shootout. Morocco triumphed 3-2 from the spot. Ismael Saibari scored the decisive penalty after Yassine Bounou saved a penalty from Crysencio Summerville, and both teams experienced missed opportunities and saves during the shootout.
The defeat means the Netherlands’ wait for World Cup glory continues, having failed to reach the last 16 in a tournament they had not participated in since 2006. Koeman’s tactics, particularly the shift to a back five, have been questioned, especially given the team’s strong attacking performance in the group stages, where they scored 10 goals, including a 5-1 win over Sweden.
Following the elimination, Ronald Koeman indicated he would reflect on his future as the Netherlands manager. He stated that he would consider his position, which marks his second tenure with the national team, and might reach a conclusion by the following morning. Morocco, meanwhile, will now prepare for their last-16 match against Canada, with expectations rising after their performance in the Qatar 2022 semi-finals, where they finished fourth.
Morocco’s coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed confidence in his team, noting that the World Cup in Qatar had changed the mentality of the Moroccan squad. He emphasised that their focus remains on their performance on the pitch. Morocco’s defender Noussair Mazraoui acknowledged the difficulty of the match against a highly-rated opponent, calling the victory a significant achievement for the national team.
Morocco’s victory sets up a last-16 clash with Canada.
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Source: liverpoolfc.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter