Netherlands 1-1 Morocco (Morocco win 3-2 on penalties): – live reaction

Morocco’s Atlas Lions survived a late Dutch surge to edge into the knockout stages on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Monterrey, with Ismael Saibari’s spot-kick sealing a 3-2 shootout victory. The result sends the North Africans into the last 16 and leaves Ronald Koeman’s side staring at an early exit, their cautious approach drawing fresh criticism from pundits and fans alike.

A shootout for the ages

The deadlock was settled by Saibari, whose penalty won it after a sequence that swung wildly between drama and farce. Morocco’s first four spot-kicks were all converted, while the Netherlands saw Memphis Depay’s side miss twice—Hakimi rattling the post, and Timber firing wide. Verbruggen’s save on Rahimi briefly offered hope, but Saibari’s composed finish sealed the win. The travelling Moroccan support erupted in Monterrey, their chants echoing through a stadium that had witnessed a contest far from the Dutch’s preferred rhythm.

The shootout’s unpredictability masked a game that never quite ignited. Koeman’s side dominated possession but struggled to fashion clear chances, their reluctance to commit bodies forward in extra time drawing sharp rebukes. “I’m disappointed that in the extra period the Netherlands never tried to do anything with the ball,” wrote one correspondent, echoing Zlatan Ibrahimović’s dismissal of their approach as “not playing with their identity.” The Dutch, it seemed, were content to cede territory, milk fouls, and launch set pieces—a strategy that yielded little beyond a 90th-minute equaliser from Koopmeiners.

What it means for both sides

For Morocco, the win is a statement of progress. Saibari, already their tournament’s leading scorer, delivered again, while Bounou’s penalty save kept their hopes alive. The Atlas Lions now face a daunting last-16 tie, but their resilience in tight games suggests they can trouble any opponent.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, face existential questions. Their cautious tactics betrayed a side lacking clear direction, and the shootout defeat compounds a pattern of underwhelming performances. Koeman’s future may now hang in the balance, with critics questioning whether his pragmatic approach aligns with the Dutch tradition of attacking football.

Tactical stasis and the cost of caution

The game’s defining feature was the Netherlands’ refusal to embrace risk. In extra time, they reverted to a low block, fouling to break momentum and rarely testing Morocco’s defence. “They’re playing not to lose,” observed Ibrahimović, framing Koeman’s tactics as uncharacteristically Italian. The approach backfired spectacularly, with Morocco’s counter-attacks nearly decisive before Saibari’s moment of individual brilliance.

Morocco, by contrast, showed composure under pressure. Their shootout execution was flawless until the final penalty, while their midfield—anchored by El Aynaoui and Talbi—controlled the tempo. The contrast in approaches could not have been starker: one side chasing a winner, the other clinging to survival.

The fallout will be swift. For the Dutch, a tournament that began with ambition now risks ending in recrimination. For Morocco, the reward is a place in the next round—and the chance to write another chapter in a campaign that has already defied expectations. The real drama, however, may only just be beginning.