The Netherlands’ 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion after Morocco completed a dramatic comeback by eliminating Ronald Koeman’s side on penalties after a 1-1 draw, but much of the post-match discussion focused not on the result itself but on the Dutch coach’s tactical decisions.Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic delivered one of the strongest criticisms of the tournament while working as a pundit for FOX Sports, laying the blame for the defeat solely on Koeman. Thierry Henry, who joined him in the studio, also questioned the Dutch’s conservative game plan, arguing that Morocco deserved to progress as they stayed true to their identity throughout the competition.Koeman, however, defended his approach, insisting he would make exactly the same decisions again despite the painful elimination.
A late collapse turns Dutch control into heartbreak after a penalty
The last-32 clash looked set to go in the Netherlands’ favor when Cody Gakpo, playing just days after the tragic loss of his unborn son, put the Oranje ahead in the 72nd minute.The Liverpool forward’s goal looked set to send the Netherlands through to the round of 16, but Morocco refused to give up.
The Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo (11) celebrates scoring the first goal during the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Deep into stoppage time, in the 91st minute, Issa Diop equalized after a costly defensive lapse, sending the game into overtime and completely changing the momentum.From that point on, Morocco increasingly controlled proceedings. The Netherlands spent long periods defending deep, ending the latter stages of the contest with just 35 per cent possession as Koeman’s side retreated into a compact low block.
Morocco’s Issa Diop reacts after scoring the first goal for his team during the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen kept the Dutch alive with a superb save to keep out Soufiane Rahimi in extra time, but the resistance finally ended in penalties when Ismael Saibari calmly converted the decisive spot-kick to send Morocco into the last 16, where they will face Canada.It brought a disappointing World Cup campaign to an abrupt end for the Netherlands.
Ibrahimović condemned Koeman
Speaking on FOX Sports after the match, Ibrahimovic made it clear that he believes the defeat was entirely self-inflicted.“This defeat is Koeman’s fault, because I didn’t recognize this Dutch team. He lost with an identity that is not a Dutch identity. It makes me angry,” Ibrahimovic said.The former AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United striker claimed that the Netherlands have abandoned the attacking philosophy that has traditionally defined their football.“I was always taught: attack, attack, attack. That is not the Dutch identity. Today Koeman looked like an Italian coach who plays not to lose, while the Netherlands always play to win. If you lose, at least lose with your identity and don’t change it.“This wasn’t the Holland I’m used to seeing. You could tell by the way they played they weren’t comfortable. There was no possession, no attacking football. It just looked really bad, and it was all Koeman’s fault.“I thought it was absolutely nothing, really nothing.”Ibrahimovic promised when he joined FOX Sports’ World Cup coverage earlier this year that he would “wake up” the audience with honest analysis, and his assessment of Holland’s elimination became one of the tournament’s strongest post-match reactions.
Henry also questions the defensive switch
Thierry Henry shared many of Ibrahimovic’s concerns, although his criticism focused more on Koeman’s tactical set-up.Before Ibrahimovic spoke, Henry praised Morocco for remaining committed to their style of play throughout the evening.“The team that tried to win won,” Henry said. “They didn’t change their form. They continued what they were, their identity.”He compared this to the Netherlands, arguing that they seem more concerned with protecting their advantage than expanding it.“Morocco tried to win the game,” Henry said. “Holland was just trying not to lose it.”Henry was particularly surprised by Koeman’s decision to employ a top five in such an important knockout game.“Remove a midfielder to bring in a defender. You’re basically saying you’re afraid of Morocco. That’s allowed, of course. If you win, you’re right. If you lose, you’re wrong.”“I was very surprised, because the Netherlands doesn’t usually play like that. But Koeman obviously had a different take on it.”The comments reiterated Ibrahimovic’s central argument that the Dutch had moved away from the attacking identity that had long characterized their national team.
Koeman stands by his decisions despite criticism
Koeman rejected the suggestion that his tactics were responsible for the defeat and insisted that a defensive approach was necessary against one of the strongest teams in the tournament.“With this defensive approach, we conceded much less than during the (group) matches,” Koeman said.“That was positive, but we were also less offensive. You can come up with whatever tactics you want, but we gave a lot less against teams much stronger than Sweden and Tunisia. And if I had to do it again, I would do it the same way again.”The Dutch coach also claimed that football often judges coaches based solely on results rather than performance.“I also know if Morocco hadn’t equalized with that late goal, there would have been all kinds of compliments for me as the Dutch coach, but now I’ll probably be scolded for picking five defenders, but again, I believe it was necessary.”Ultimately, Morocco’s dramatic comeback and victory on penalties ensured that the debate surrounding Koeman’s tactical decisions overshadowed Holland’s elimination. And while Ibrahimović and Henry wondered if Oranje had abandoned their football identity, Koeman remained convinced that his plan was correct, even if it ended with another painful relegation from the World Cup.
