FIFA World Cup 2026 has completed 19 days, and we have giants like the Netherlands and Germany eliminated against teams that are conventionally not as experienced as they are. After Paraguay kicked out Germany in the round of 32, Morocco won the penalty shootout 3-2 against the Dutch team.
The Netherlands has been actively playing in the FIFA World Cup since 1934, and is considered one of the strongest footballing nations. They have given legends like Johan Cruyff, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie, and Memphis Depay. However, they have never smelled the World Cup trophy. Their best performances were in 1974, 1978, and 2010, when they ended up as runners-up.
On Monday night at Monterrey, Morocco triggered one of the Netherlands' biggest fears, which is a penalty shootout. After a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute, the Netherlands were ahead in the game and were looking strong until Issa Diop scored a critical goal in stoppage time, which changed the fate of the game. The match went to a goalless extra-time, and eventually a penalty shootout, which they haven't won since 2014.
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What happened in Morocco vs Netherlands
The crowds were roaring, going crazy in Monterrey Stadium, and the game was intense from the beginning. When it was looking like a clear draw, Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch a final hope by scoring a goal in the 72nd minute, giving a 1-0 lead to the Netherlands. It was an emotional moment for Gakpo, who had recently lost an unborn child with his partner.
Virgil Van Dijk and company were saving the Dutch team from every Moroccan player like they're used to. All they had to do was protect that 1-0 lead, but in the 91st minute, Morocco's Issa Diop received a long cross from Chemsdine Talbi and headed an equalizer that was impossible to stop.
Extra time settled nothing decisive, though the Dutch goalkeeper produced brilliant saves that took the match to the penalty shootout. But a penalty shootout is less about skill, more about luck, psychology, pressure, and the goalkeeper's reflexes and wingspan. After a 2-2 score in the penalty shootout, Yassine Bounou's save brought Morocco back into the game. In the end, Ismael Saibari's winning penalty goal knocked the Dutch out of the tournament.
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Penalty history and the question of luck
Some may argue that if the Netherlands is such an amazing team, they must conclude most games before the penalty shootout. However, football is a game of uncertainity, and we have seen how favorites and table toppers have exited the tournaments in the most unexpected ways. The last time the Netherlands won a penalty shootout was in 2014, against Costa Rica, only to be knocked out by Argentina in the semi-final.
At this point, if losing penalties is an art, the Netherlands is becoming a Picasso of it. They lost to Argentina 4-2 and 4-3 on penalties in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final and the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals. And now, Morocco knocked them out. However, they hold the record of being unbeaten in 90 minutes for over two decades, which is a staggering record.
Despite being favorites and an early 1-0 lead, they lost the 1974 World Cup final to West Germany 2-1. In the 1978 and 2010 World Cups, they took the match to extra time, only to lose against Argentina and Spain, respectively. The nation always had a roster that could scare the best defenders and attackers, but it hasn't been able to get into the semi-finals since 2014. For a fact, they didn't even qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018, which was a shock for football fans.
Nevertheless, you can not dismiss these defeats as pure randomness. There is a psychological pressure on not only players but fans who have witnessed the trend of the Dutch losing the shootouts. They changed coaches, management, and tried everything, but even Louis Van Gaal could not change this pattern. At this moment, it's not only about luck but has become a habit or what we call "a curse".
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Why was this a defeat earned by Oranje, not lost to Morocco?
You can not always blame fate when you're playing in a knockout match. For the last few years, Morocco has had a history of upsetting the European giants. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they beat Belgium, Spain, and Portugal to get into their first-ever semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup. For years, Yassine Bounou has been their wall of defence and has been denying the best goals.
After a 1-0 lead, the Netherlands had chances to shift the momentum, but their complacency and low possession cost them. With 70% ball possession, 780 passes, and 12 shots on target, Morocco dominated them throughout the match. If the Dutch had defended exceptionally in the last 20-25 minutes, the results would have been different.
When the Netherlands conceded a goal in stoppage time, the fans got staggered as the momentum shifted towards Morocco. They kept waiting for an extra-time goal, but that didn't happen. On the other hand, Morocco kept attacking, and the Dutch defense worked smartly enough to not concede another goal. However, it could not save them from the Atlas Lions.
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It's not the first time the Netherlands' bad luck has come into the picture. Across the decades, Dutch football has produced moments of genuine misfortune and disappointment. However, Morocco was not on their cards. Undoubtedly, Morocco is a very strong team, but one can't forget that the Netherlands is a more experienced team and has played more knockouts than Morocco.
With Germany, Japan, South Africa, and the Netherlands out of the tournament, we have 12 more spots to fill for the round of 16—the upcoming matches of Norway vs Ivory Coast, France vs Sweden, and Mexico vs Ecuador will decide whether we'll witness Norway vs Brazil in the round of 16 and Paraguay vs France or if there are more unexpected results to come.
