Netherlands and Morocco clash in World Cup last 32 as both sides eye deep run
Two top-ten sides with attacking firepower meet in Monterrey for a round-of-32 tie that Dutch coach Ronald Koeman says has come too early in the tournament.
A heavyweight contest
The Netherlands and Morocco, both quarter-finalists or better at Qatar 2022, meet on Monday night at Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Guadalupe, Mexico, in the standout tie of the World Cup's first knockout round. Dutch coach Ronald Koeman acknowledged the fixture's weight, saying it pits two teams that ought to go further against each other prematurely.
It's a very important match between two teams that want to go as far as possible in the tournament and a match of this nature comes a little too soon at the World Cup, I would say.
Captain Virgil van Dijk was equally upbeat, stressing that his side is prepared for the challenge. "These are the games you want to be part of," he told reporters.
Group stage form
Both nations sailed through the group phase with attacking flair. The Netherlands topped Group F after a 2-2 draw with Japan, a 5-1 thrashing of Sweden and a 3-1 win over Tunisia, scoring ten goals in the process. Morocco went unbeaten in their group, drawing 1-1 with Brazil before beating Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2.
- Netherlands 2-2 Japan
- Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
- Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia
- Morocco 1-1 Brazil
- Morocco 1-0 Scotland
- Morocco 4-2 Haiti
The Dutch offensive output was spread across the squad, with Brian Brobbey netting three times and Cody Gakpo and Crysencio Summerville each scoring twice. Morocco's Ismael Saibari matched Brobbey's tally of three goals from three matches.
- Brian Brobbey
- 3 goals
- Ismael Saibari
- 3 goals
- Cody Gakpo
- 2 goals
- Crysencio Summerville
- 2 goals
Key players and shared roots
Van Dijk singled out right-back Achraf Hakimi as one of the world's best, while also highlighting the threat posed by PSV Eindhoven striker Saibari and midfielder Brahim Diaz. He noted the emergence of 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi in Morocco's midfield.
The tie carries extra layers of familiarity: at least three Moroccan internationals were born in the Netherlands, and Saibari plays his club football in the Dutch Eredivisie. Sofyan Amrabat, born in Huizen, is one of those Dutch-born players and faces the Oranje with his club future uncertain as his loan at Real Betis from Fenerbahce nears its end.
What the coaches said
Koeman promised an offensive approach, calling the contest "a very attractive match." His counterpart, Morocco's Mohamed Ouahbi, saw his side come through a demanding group unbeaten and will look to Saibari and Diaz to break down a Dutch defence that conceded four times in three games.
I don't think we have to put any statements down. It's just a situation that we are where we are. It is a fantastic game for neutrals to watch.
How to watch
The match kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Monday (3 a.m. Tuesday in France, 1 a.m. GMT Tuesday). In the United States, it airs on FOX and streams on Fubo and Telemundo. French viewers can watch on beIN SPORTS 1. Betting markets make the Netherlands slight favourites at +111, with Morocco at +239 and the draw priced at +205.
