Koeman Stands Firm
Ronald Koeman Remains Defiant After Netherlands' World Cup Elimination, Faces Criticism
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The Netherlands are out of the 2026 World Cup after losing to Morocco on penalties at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico. The Dutch led through a Cody Gakpo goal in the 72nd minute, but Issa Diop headed in an equalizer in the 91st minute. Morocco won the shootout 3-2, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saving Crysencio Summerville's final kick to seal the win, according to The Guardian.
Manager Ronald Koeman refused to apologize for his tactics after the match. "If I had to do it again, I'd do it all the same way," he said. The defeat marks the Netherlands' earliest-ever exit from a World Cup tournament, The Guardian reported.
Koeman's Defensive Gamble Backfires Against Morocco
Koeman set up his team in a 5-2-3 defensive block — a sharp break from his promise to play attacking football when he took the job in January 2023. He wanted to stop Morocco's dangerous wingers. But the stats told a brutal story. Morocco had 70.1% possession and an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.40, compared to just 0.23 for the Dutch, per Sky Sports.
Koeman pushed back hard at reporters who questioned him. "As the Dutch coach, when the equalizer is scored, I am always going to be scolded for the fact I chose five defenders," he said. "I don't give a damn." Morocco completed 800 accurate passes at 91% accuracy. The Netherlands managed just 293 at 78.8%, according to Sky Sports.
Gakpo Scores Through Grief as Morocco Fights Back
Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands ahead with a finish from a Crysencio Summerville cross. The goal carried extra weight. Gakpo and his partner had recently announced the loss of their unborn child. His celebration was described as solemn and emotional, per The Guardian.
Morocco refused to fold. Issa Diop rose to head in a Chemsdine Talbi cross in the 91st minute to make it 1-1. Extra time produced no goals. In the shootout, Ismael Saibari scored the winning penalty. Bounou saved Summerville's attempt to end it, The Guardian reported. Morocco had never beaten the Netherlands before in a competitive match.
Morocco's Coach Surprised by Dutch Timidity
Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said before the game his team was "motivated, confident and determined." After the final whistle, he admitted surprise at how defensive the Dutch played. He credited his team's "patience and faith" for getting the result, according to The Guardian.
Before players stepped up for penalties, several Moroccan players recited verses from the Qur'an. After the win, they performed Sujood — a prostration of thankfulness — on the pitch. The moment went viral on social media, Al Jazeera reported. Morocco now faces Canada in the Round of 16 on July 4 in Houston.
Koeman's Future in Doubt as Arne Slot Waits in the Wings
The loss sparked immediate questions about Koeman's job. Reports suggest Liverpool manager Arne Slot is the top candidate to replace him if the KNVB acts. Koeman has held the role for three and a half years across his second stint, per The Guardian.
The defeat also carried a sharp social dimension. People of Moroccan descent make up roughly 2.4% of the Dutch population — more than 430,000 people. Celebrations in the Netherlands turned into clashes. In Amsterdam and The Hague, riot police fired water cannons after fireworks were thrown at officers, according to Yahoo Sports.
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