The final match of a brilliant Monday slate of knockout games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw Group F winners Netherlands take on Group C runners-up Morocco, with the winner going on to face co-hosts Canada in the Round of 16.
Ronald Koeman opted to make an entire system change and 2 personnel changes to the side he started in the 3-1 win over Tunisia in their final group stage game. Donyell Malen and Tijjani Reijnders were dropped from the starting XI, which set up in a 4-3-3 formation, and Micky van de Ven and Crysencio Summerville came into the starting XI, which switched to a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Mohamed Ouahbi opted for 4 changes to the starting XI that began the final group stage game against Haiti, in which they won 4-2, as Redouane Halhal, Anass Salah-Eddine, Sofyan Amrabat, and Ayoub El Kaabi came out of the starting XI and were replaced by Issa Diop, Noussair Mazraoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Azzedine Ounahi.
After a very passive opening 20 minutes from both teams, where the only shot for either side was a Ryan Gravenberch shot that was easily blocked, Morocco had two huge chances to take the lead. The first came from a corner put in by Achraf Hakimi, who found Neil El Aynaoui at the front post, and his header looked destined for the back of the net, but Bart Verbruggen pulled off a brilliant save.
The second chance came a minute or so later, and it was Achraf Hakimi involved again as his shot from just inside the box was hit with some real venom, but Verbruggen was there again to make a solid save and keep Morocco out.
Netherlands had their first decent chance of the half just a few minutes before the halftime break when Micky van de Ven hit a great shot outside the box that was moving away from the goalkeeper, but Bounou managed to get a touch and put it over his bar. Morocco broke through in stoppage time, but Azzedine Ounahi rushed his shot and sent it flying over the bar.
No one can believe Morocco didn’t score when a free kick was brilliantly put across the face of the 6-yard box, but no Morocco player could get the vital touch, even though a number of them threw themselves at it. In the end, both teams were tied at 0-0 heading into the 2nd half.
Micky van de Ven had the first chance of the 2nd half when he forced Bounou into a solid save with his header, but it was Morocco who had a huge chance in the opening 10 minutes of the 2nd half when Achraf Hakimi broke down the right side and fired a shot that cannoned off the crossbar from a difficult angle.
Achraf Hakimi was played through once again and looked all but certain to put Morocco 1-0 up, but Micky van de Ven recovered brilliantly and put in a top-class slide tackle just in time to stop Hakimi from getting his shot away.
Right out of the hydration break, the Netherlands found the breakthrough for the first goal of the game. Wout Weghorst flicked on a goal kick to Summerville, who did brilliantly to work his way into the box and slip the ball to Cody Gakpo, who fired home for an absolutely beautiful moment as he put his nation 1-0 up.
The Dutch were defending with everything they had and were doing really well to keep Morocco quiet during the final 10 minutes of the game, but in the first minute of the six added on, Chemsdine Talbi put in a wonderful ball into the box, and Issa Diop scored with a bullet header to level the game at 1-1.
6 minutes into the first half of extra time, and we might have seen the save of the tournament. Soufiane Rahimi is played through one-on-one with Verbruggen and looks certain to score for Morocco, but somehow Verbruggen makes himself big and produces an unbelievable stop with his leg and arm to deny Rahimi.
The second half of extra time came and went without a single shot for either side, and so we’re off to penalties to decide who progresses to the Round of 16 and who will be going home.
Teun Koopmeiners stepped up to take the first penalty of the shootout, and he took a perfect penalty, firing it into the side netting at the bottom corner. Neil El Aynaoui stepped up to take Morocco’s first penalty, and he fired the ball off the crossbar and missed. 1-0 Netherlands after one penalty each.
Justin Kluivert stepped up to take the Dutch’s 2nd penalty, but he smashed it off the left post and missed, still 1-0 Netherlands. Soufiane Rahimi stepped up 2nd for Morocco, and somehow his penalty went in after it looked like Verbruggen saved it, but it squeezed underneath the keeper and just went over the line. 1-1 after two penalties.
Wout Weghorst stepped up 3rd for the Dutch and dispatched his penalty brilliantly into the top left-hand corner to make it 2-1 Netherlands. Chemsdine Talbi stepped up 3rd for Morocco and matched Weghorst just the other side of the goal, sticking it in the top right corner brilliantly. 2-2 after three penalties each.
Quinten Timber stepped up 4th for the Netherlands, and he hit his penalty wide to the left horribly, still 2-2 with Achraf Hakimi stepping up for Morocco, but he smashed his penalty off the left post and missed too, an absolutely chaotic penalty shootout. 2-2 after four penalties each.
Crysencio Summerville steps up to take the Netherlands’ 5th penalty, but he can’t beat Bounou, who saves up high to his right side- a brilliant save- still 2-2, with Morocco having the chance to win the shootout and go through to the next round.
Ismael Saibari stepped up for the crucial penalty, and he slotted it home into the bottom left-hand corner to fire his nation into a Round of 16 game with co-hosts Canada, while the Netherlands were sent home in such heartbreaking fashion.
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Ivory Coast |
Tuesday, |
AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
Fox, Fox One, Telemundo, Peacock |
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France |
Tuesday, |
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
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Mexico |
Tuesday, |
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
Fox, Fox One, Telemundo, Peacock |
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