Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout on Monday, advancing to the World Cup round of 16. The match, held in Monterrey, concluded 1-1 after extra time, with Ismael Saibari converting the decisive penalty for Morocco.
The Dutch manager, Ronald Koeman, stated he would reflect on his future following the elimination. This marks his second tenure in charge of the national team, which has spanned three and a half years. When asked about his resignation, Koeman responded, “No, I haven’t. I’m going to reflect on my future. This is straight after a game and the disappointment is so fresh in your mind. I’m going to reflect on it and maybe I’ll come to a conclusion by tomorrow morning.”
Match Highlights and Controversial Tactics
The game saw Cody Gakpo open the scoring for the Netherlands in the 72nd minute. Gakpo, playing days after a personal loss, was visibly emotional after his goal. However, Issa Diop equalized for Morocco with a header in stoppage time, sending the match into extra time.
Koeman faced criticism for his team’s defensive approach, employing a five-man back line. He defended his strategy, stating, “You can think whatever you like but we gave away much less against a team that was stronger than Sweden and Tunisia. If I had to do it again I’d do it all the same way. As the Dutch coach when the equaliser is scored I am always going to be scolded for the fact I chose five defenders. But you criticise, which is your right. You watch from the sidelines, I’m here with the team and, once again, I’d do it again.”
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged his surprise at the Dutch formation. “We were taken aback by their formation,” Ouahbi said. “When we saw it we knew they wanted to defend in a low block. That’s not usually how they play and we had to adapt. I saw this type of play as a form of respect.”
During the penalty shootout, Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s penalty. Neil El Aynaoui of Morocco and Justin Kluivert of the Netherlands both missed their attempts. Bart Verbruggen appeared to save Soufiane Rahimi’s shot, but the ball trickled over the line. Quinten Timber then sent his shot wide for the Dutch side.
Achraf Hakimi hit the crossbar with a chance to secure victory before Saibari converted the winning spot kick. The match was a gripping encounter, with momentum shifting between both teams.
Looking Ahead for Morocco
Morocco will now face co-hosts Canada in the next round, with the match scheduled for Saturday in Houston. This will be the second consecutive World Cup featuring a Canada-Morocco showdown, as Morocco defeated Canada 2-1 in the group stage of the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Canada secured their spot in the knockout stage with a 1-0 victory over South Africa in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, marking their first knockout stage win in the tournament’s history. The winner of the Morocco-Canada match could potentially face France in the quarter-finals, a team that defeated Morocco in the Qatar 2022 semi-finals.
Ouahbi emphasized the importance of performance on the field. “Talk is cheap, it’s what we can do on the pitch that counts,” he stated. “The World Cup in Qatar changed the mentality of the Moroccan team. We’re unstoppable if we play the football we know how to play, but if we get things wrong we’ll go home.”
Morocco, who entered the tournament ranked seventh in the world, is aiming to at least match their fourth-place finish from four years ago.
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Source: theguardian.com
