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Koeman Resigns After Netherlands' Shock Morocco Shootout Loss

7/1/2026

28 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Koeman Resigns

Ronald Koeman resigned as Netherlands coach after the team lost to Morocco in a round-of-32 penalty shootout.
Morocco advanced, delivering the Netherlands its earliest World Cup exit, while the Royal Dutch Football Association thanked the squad and condemned online racist abuse.
The Monterrey match finished 1-1 after Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute and Issa Diop equalised in first-minute stoppage time.

Summary

Ouahbi’s Press

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi, appointed in March, used a 70% possession, aggressive-press style that produced a high-block with a false-nine.
The false-nine, 25-year-old Ismael Saibari, scored the winning penalty.
Four lineup changes introduced Issa Diop and Noussair Mazraoui, whose play sparked the late equaliser.
Ouahbi assigned 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi a defensive-midfield role after Bouaddi switched allegiance from France.

Summary

Police Crackdown

Police in The Hague used water cannons and baton charges on Moroccan-Dutch fans after the penalty shoot-out, with fireworks and stones thrown.
Authorities arrested about a dozen people in The Hague, detained ten fans in the Omroep West region and four supporters in Rotterdam.
Far-right politician Geert Wilders posted on X congratulating Morocco, added an anti-Islam insult and shared an AI image of himself as a referee issuing a red card.

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Koeman Resigns

Ronald Koeman resigned as Netherlands coach after the team lost to Morocco in a round-of-32 penalty shootout.
Morocco advanced, delivering the Netherlands its earliest World Cup exit, while the Royal Dutch Football Association thanked the squad and condemned online racist abuse.
The Monterrey match finished 1-1 after Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute and Issa Diop equalised in first-minute stoppage time.

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