Netherlands vs Morocco

About this fixture

The teams had previously faced each other three times, including once in the World Cup: a 2–1 group stage win for Netherlands at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Their latest encounter was in a friendly match in 2017, also won by the Netherlands in a 2–1 margin.

Following a goalless first half, including two back-to-back saves from Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, the Netherlands went in front after 72 minutes, a header from Wout Weghorst sent the ball into the path of his teammate Crysencio Summerville, who began a run into the Moroccan half. Though he was brought down, the Moroccan defence failed to clear the ball and it broke into the path of Cody Gakpo who smashed the ball low into the net from twelve yards out to put the Netherlands into the lead.

As the game went into stoppage time, a long ball from outside the box on the left found the head of centre-back Issa Diop, who headed powerfully to the right of the net from six yards out for the equalizer. After a goalless extra-time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Ismael Saibari scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out with a low shot to the left to secure victory for Morocco, after the Dutch missed three penalty kicks, including their last two kicks.

Morocco advanced to the round of 16, and will face co-host Canada next. This match marks the Netherlands' third consecutive World Cup elimination via penalty shootout, with similar defeats happening in 2022 and 2014 (both against Argentina).