Rabat – The Netherlands’ dramatic elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the hands of Morocco sparked fierce criticism across the Dutch media. While many outlets questioned Ronald Koeman’s tactics and the team’s mentality, they also praised Morocco for producing the better performance over 120 minutes.
Voetbal International delivered one of the strongest reactions, describing the Dutch display as “embarrassing, cowardly football.” The magazine criticized Koeman’s decision to start with five defenders, arguing that the defensive setup showed fear rather than ambition. According to the publication, the cautious approach abandoned the Netherlands’ famous attacking identity and ultimately led to their downfall.
Former Dutch international Kees Kwakman was equally direct during ESPN Netherlands’ WK Praat program. He insisted that “a new national team coach must come,” saying the team lacked ambition during extra time. The panel criticized the players for sitting deep, and appearing more interested in reaching penalties than finding a winning goal.
De Telegraaf focused on the psychological side of the defeat. The newspaper said the Dutch team collapsed under pressure when the match reached its decisive moments. It also criticized the penalty shootout, pointing to missed attempts by Justin Kluivert and Quinten Timber. At the same time, the outlet praised Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari for calmly converting the winning penalty that sent the Atlas Lions into the Round of 16.
Algemeen Dagblad highlighted the emotional story of Cody Gakpo, who opened the scoring just days after revealing the heartbreaking loss of his unborn child. The newspaper wrote that his goal seemed destined to become the match-winner, but Morocco’s tactical changes after the break shifted the balance. Fresh attacking substitutions increased the pressure, unsettling the Dutch defense.
