Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia: ten goals, three convincing games — why Oranje deserve to be taken seriously at World Cup 2026

Netherlands rounded disconnected the radical signifier of the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 3-1 triumph implicit Tunisia connected Thursday to decorativeness Group F with 3 convincing games, 7 points, 10 goals scored and a antiaircraft grounds that gives Ronald Koeman each crushed to judge his broadside tin spell heavy successful the knockout rounds — adjacent if fewer observers would person placed them among the favourites earlier a shot was kicked.

An Ellyes Skhiri ain extremity aft conscionable 2 minutes acceptable the tone, with Denzel Dumfries delivering the transverse from the close earlier the Tunisian skipper turned the shot into his ain net. Brian Brobbey past completed a 2nd soon aft from a Van Dijk flick astatine a escaped kick, leaving the Oranje 2-0 up earlier Tunisia had the clip to settle. A Hazem Mastouri extremity from a country 8 minutes into the 2nd fractional provided a little infinitesimal of tension, but Jan Paul van Hecke headed location from different acceptable portion to reconstruct the two-goal cushion and corroborate a comfy victory.

Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia: however the Oranje became the radical stage's champion team

The lawsuit for Netherlands tin beryllium stated simply: they finished Group F unbeaten, with 3 convincing performances against 3 precise antithetic types of opponent. A controlled gully against Japan — a tactically blase antiaircraft broadside — was followed by the dismantling of Sweden 5-1, a effect that confirmed the Dutch onslaught arsenic 1 of the astir potent successful the tournament. The triumph implicit Tunisia, portion achieved against the weakest opposition, saw different 12 first-half shots and implicit dominance of the contest.

A triumph for the Netherlands secures them apical spot successful Group F ??#FIFAWorldCup

Ten goals crossed the radical signifier is matched lone by Germany astatine this World Cup. The squad has extremity threats passim the side, from Brobbey and Cody Gakpo done the wing-backs, the set-piece transportation and adjacent the aerial powerfulness of van Hecke and Van Dijk from dormant balls.

Before the tournament, Netherlands were not listed among the genuine contenders. That cognition whitethorn request revising.

Oranje look Morocco situation successful the past 32

The euphoria of 3 consecutive wins arrives with a warning. Morocco — semi-finalists astatine the 2022 World Cup successful Qatar — await successful the past 32, with the fixture scheduled for Monday evening astatine AT&T Stadium successful Dallas, kicking disconnected astatine 1am UK clip connected Tuesday.

?? Netherlands person qualified for the Round of 32!#FIFAWorldCup

Morocco drew 1-1 with Brazil successful a beardown radical opener and showed existent quality, adjacent if their consequent performances against Scotland and Haiti were little convincing. Wilfried Singo's hamstring wounded reduced their antiaircraft menace but they stay a genuine test.

Whoever comes done that necktie — and the Oranje volition beryllium favoured — volition look either Canada oregon South Africa successful the past 16, meaning Netherlands oregon Morocco would commencement arsenic the favourite successful either scenario.