Morocco defeated the Netherlands on penalties, 3-2, after a 120-minute draw in Monterrey, Mexico, according to the report. The match was decided in extra time and a shootout beneath the landmark Cerro de la Silla.
The article described Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands as set up in a defensive, bunker-style formation that featured a back three of Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Aké, with Denzel Dumfries and Micky van de Ven as wing defenders. Two holding midfielders — named in the piece as Ryan Gravenberch and Frenkie de Jong — sat in front of the defense, while Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey led the attack alongside Crysencio Summerville.
Netherlands’ offensive output in 120-plus minutes was limited, the report said. The Oranje registered only two shots on target: Gakpo’s goal, created when Summerville passed while on the ground, and a header from Micky van de Ven with an expected-goals value of 0.01. The team posted an xG of 0.23 through extra time, according to the article. Morocco had moments of threat as well, with Achraf Hakimi hitting the crossbar twice and Azzedine Ounahi praised for his influence.
The piece recounted key moments in extra time. Issa Diop’s injury-time header beat Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen, and later Soufiane Rahimi’s shot ricocheted off Verbruggen’s thigh onto his arm, events detailed in the report. The article also criticized some of Koeman’s substitutions, noting the introduction of Wout Weghorst instead of players such as Memphis Depay or Donyell Malen and the replacement of Van de Ven with Jorrel Hato.
The report credited Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi with transforming the side from reactive to proactive, contrasting his approach with that of predecessor Walid Regragui. It referenced Morocco’s run to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar and said the current group has adopted a more attacking, confident style than before.
