Netherlands exit World Cup after penalty shootout loss to Morocco

By Rohan Gupta — 30 June 2026 — 3 min read

The Netherlands have been eliminated from the World Cup after a 1-1 draw against Morocco in the last-32 tie, which concluded with a 3-2 penalty shootout victory for Morocco in Monterrey, Mexico. This result sets up a last-16 clash for Morocco against Canada.

Cody Gakpo initially gave the Netherlands the lead in the 72nd minute following a break from Crysencio Summerville. However, Issa Diop scored an equaliser for Morocco in the 90th minute with a header, sending the match into extra time and then penalties.

During extra time, Morocco had a significant opportunity to take the lead when Soufiane Rahimi was one-on-one with Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Verbruggen made a close-range save, described as a notable moment in the tournament, to keep the score level.

In the dramatic penalty shootout, Morocco triumphed 3-2. Ismael Saibari scored the decisive penalty after Yassine Bounou saved a penalty from Crysencio Summerville, amid multiple missed opportunities and saves from both sides.

Koeman’s tactical approach questioned

Ronald Koeman, the manager of the Netherlands, faced scrutiny for his team’s tactical setup, particularly his decision to play with a five-man back line. This approach led to the team often operating on the counter-attack and surrendering possession, which was unexpected by Morocco‘s coach, Mohamed Ouahbi.

Ouahbi commented that his team was surprised by the Dutch formation, noting that it indicated a defensive strategy with a low block, which is not typical for the Netherlands. He viewed this as a form of respect and his team had to adjust their play accordingly.

Despite the criticism, Koeman defended his choices in a post-match press conference. He stated that his team conceded fewer chances against an opponent he considered stronger than their group stage adversaries, Sweden and Tunisia. He affirmed that he would make the same tactical decisions again if given the chance.

Koeman acknowledged that as the Dutch coach, he would be criticised for choosing five defenders after an equaliser was scored. He maintained that he was with the team and would stand by his decisions.

Manager’s future under consideration

Following the elimination, Ronald Koeman indicated he would reflect on his future as the manager of the Netherlands national team. When asked about his resignation, he stated he had not yet handed it in and would come to a conclusion by the following morning.

This marks Koeman‘s second tenure in charge of the national team, which has lasted three and a half years. The disappointing exit has led to questions regarding his leadership and the team’s performance, especially after a strong group stage showing where they scored 10 goals, including a 5-1 victory over Sweden.

For Morocco, the victory means they will proceed to face Canada in the last 16. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi‘s team is now on a path that could potentially lead to a quarter-final match against France, a team they faced in the Qatar 2022 semi-finals. There is growing anticipation that Morocco could replicate or even surpass their achievement from four years ago, when they finished fourth in the tournament.

Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui described the match as tough against a strong opponent, acknowledging the win as a significant recognition for their national team. The next challenge for Morocco is their last-16 match against Canada.

Source: theguardian.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter