Following Morocco’s victory over the Netherlands in a World Cup last-32 tie, celebrations erupted in various Dutch cities, though some areas also reported disturbances. The match, which ended in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, saw the Atlas Lions advance to the next round.

In Amsterdam, the Moroccan community celebrated joyously in the early morning hours. Car horns sounded throughout the city, and fans waved flags, with many Dutch supporters reportedly congratulating their opponents. Police presence on Mercatorplein square, a site of past disturbances, noted a peaceful atmosphere.

However, the mood in The Hague was different. Reports from the Dutch public broadcaster NOS indicated that police were targeted with bottles and fireworks. Regional news station Omroep West stated that at least 10 individuals, believed to be Morocco fans, were arrested in The Hague following attacks on police. Additionally, the newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported that four Morocco fans were arrested in Rotterdam, though the reasons for these arrests were not specified.

Match details and player reactions

The game, held in Monterrey, Mexico, saw Nathan Ake start for the Dutch side. Morocco, who were semi-finalists in the previous World Cup, posed a significant threat throughout the match. Achraf Hakimi, earning his 100th cap, hit the crossbar, and Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made several key saves to keep the score level for a significant period.

The Netherlands took the lead with a goal from Cody Gakpo. However, Issa Diop’s powerful header in stoppage time brought the African side level. The match remained 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders remained on the bench during the game.

During the shootout, the Dutch missed three of their spot-kicks. Ismail Saibari converted the decisive penalty, securing a 3-2 victory for Morocco. This win means Morocco will now face Canada in the last-16. Other teams that progressed to the next round include Brazil and Paraguay, who defeated Japan and Germany, respectively.

Community and political context

The match carried significant social undertones in the Netherlands, home to approximately 440,000 people of Moroccan descent. The question of who to support was widely discussed, often in a good-natured manner. Former manager Ron Jans and pundit Ibrahim Afellay, who was capped 53 times for the Netherlands, publicly discussed the dilemma, with Afellay expressing support for Morocco.

The debate surrounding loyalty has been heightened by political figures. Far-right politician Geert Wilders, known for his criticism of the Moroccan community in the Netherlands, posted an AI-generated image on X depicting himself giving a red card to a Morocco player before the game. After Morocco’s triumph, Wilders used X to congratulate the team. The discussion on social cohesion is expected to continue, though the camaraderie observed among fans in Amsterdam highlighted a more positive reality compared to online discourse.

Several players of Moroccan heritage born in the Netherlands, including Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat, and Anass Salah-Eddine, chose to represent Morocco. This decision has been linked by some Dutch-Moroccan players to the rise of right-wing populist parties. Despite the multicultural composition of Ronald Koeman’s squad, it has been over a decade since a player of Moroccan heritage represented the Netherlands.

Morocco’s strong performance in the match, where they were considered superior to the Netherlands, further solidified their position in international football. They are currently ranked sixth in FIFA’s rankings, one place above their opponents.

The match also saw Jorrel Hato make his World Cup debut for the Netherlands, coming on as a substitute with four minutes remaining in normal time.

Source: theguardian.com

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The Netherlands secured the top position in World Cup Group F following a 3-1 win against Tunisia in Kansas City. The Dutch team demonstrated their attacking intent early in the match, establishing a two-goal lead within the initial seven minutes of play.

Ronald Koeman‘s side opened the scoring in the third minute when Ellyes Skhiri of Tunisia inadvertently directed a cross into his own net. Shortly after, Brian Brobbey extended the lead, converting a header from Virgil van Dijk following a free-kick. This own goal was the 12th of the tournament, equalling a World Cup record.

Second Half Action and Dutch Response

Despite the Netherlands appearing to be in control, Tunisia briefly threatened a comeback at the beginning of the second half. A corner kick found Hazem Mastouri, who headed the ball into the bottom-left corner, reducing the deficit. However, the Dutch quickly responded, with Jan Paul van Hecke restoring their two-goal advantage from a corner of his own.

Tunisia created some additional opportunities but ultimately could not alter the scoreline further, leading to their exit from the tournament without securing any points. The Netherlands, conversely, comfortably advanced to the last 32 stage of the competition.

Dutch coach Ronald Koeman expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “I wanted first place in the group, and we finished that way. I think it had to do with the fact that we went 2-0 up very quickly. That can be a problem against a stronger opponent and Morocco are an attacking team.”

Tunisia’s Tournament Exit

Tunisia’s coach, Herve Renard, offered a frank assessment of his team’s performance. He commented, “We were not at the level for this World Cup, this is clear, there is no discussion. It’s a big tournament with very good teams, especially in this group, it was a very tough group.” Renard had previously hinted at a desire to remain with the Carthage Eagles beyond this tournament.

In the other final match of Group F, Japan and Sweden secured their places in the knockout phase after a 1-1 draw in Dallas. This result meant Japan progressed in second place behind the Netherlands, while Sweden topped the third-place teams, impacting Scotland‘s chances of reaching the last 32.

The Netherlands will now face Morocco in the Round of 32. Koeman acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “At some point we got too comfortable but it won’t happen in the next match. It will be a big game with a lot of quality and we know them very well because many of their squad members play in the Eredivisie. There’s always room for improvement and we will need to improve if we are going to go further in this competition.”

The Dutch team will remain at their training base in Kansas until 24 hours before their match against Morocco. Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong played a key role in the midfield for the Netherlands, despite some prior injury concerns, being part of a largely full-strength squad.

Hervé Renard took over as Tunisia’s manager after their initial 5-1 defeat to Sweden. This was his 145th game as an international manager, having previously managed five different African countries, including two stints with Zambia. Renard was also in charge of Saudi Arabia when they achieved a notable victory against Argentina at the previous World Cup.

The Netherlands’ comfortable victory ensures their progression to the next stage of the competition.

Source: independent.co.uk

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