Netherlands vs. Morocco: Why the Virgil van Dijk-led Dutch defence could be their World Cup undoing

Netherlands caput into the knockout stages successful bully spirits aft finishing apical of Group F, collecting 7 points from a imaginable 9 and scoring 10 goals on the way. 

Ronald Koeman's broadside recovered superbly from an opening 2-2 gully with Japan by thrashing Sweden 5-1, earlier comfortably dispatching Tunisia 3-1 to unafraid archetypal place.

However, if determination is 1 interest that continues to bent implicit Oranje earlier their last-32 gathering with Morocco, it is what happens astatine the different extremity of the pitch.

While the onslaught has clicked into gear, the defence has yet to nutrient the level of power expected from 1 of Europe's strongest nations. 

Morocco person already shown during this tourney that they tin punish adjacent elite opponents aft holding Brazil, and they transportation content aft a semi-final quality successful the 2022 World Cup.

The Atlas Lions besides entered the tourney 1 spot supra the Netherlands successful the FIFA World Rankings, making this the highest-ranked matchup of the World Cup truthful far.

As a result, Koeman's broadside are improbable to bask the aforesaid level of deference they experienced during the radical stage, with Morocco much than susceptible of taking the crippled to them.

With a spot successful the past 16 astatine stake, the Dutch backmost enactment could look its biggest introspection yet and Sports Mole looks astatine the reasons that defence could beryllium their undoing.

Netherlands person not looked convincing defensively

Seven points and apical spot suggest everything has gone according to plan, but the antiaircraft numbers archer a antithetic story.

Netherlands person conceded 4 goals successful their 3 radical matches, an mean of 1.33 goals per crippled - highest among the apical 8 ranked nations heading into the 2026 World Cup - and, possibly much concerningly, they person yet to support a cleanable expanse successful the tournament.

Japan scored doubly contempt having conscionable 3 shots connected target, Sweden were capable to get 8 shots connected people and created 2 large chances during the Dutch's 5-1 victory, portion Tunisia besides breached Koeman's defence, creating 2 large chances and 4 shots connected people contempt being comfortably the weakest broadside successful the group.

For a squad built astir experienced defenders specified arsenic Virgil van Dijk and Denzel Dumfries, with apical defenders similar Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven besides a portion of the structure; numbers similar 36 attempts and 15 shots connected people conceded crossed 3 matches, are not peculiarly encouraging.

Koeman's broadside stay ascendant successful possession for agelong periods, but transitions person caused problems passim the radical stage. 

At slightest 1 of their full-backs person often pushed precise precocious up the pitch, leaving abstraction for speedy counter-attacks, portion opponents person enjoyed occurrence attacking the channels down the antiaircraft line.

Those moments whitethorn not person proved costly against Tunisia oregon Sweden, but knockout shot seldom offers 2nd chances.

Morocco person precisely the attacking weapons to exposure them

If determination is 1 broadside susceptible of exploiting antiaircraft transitions, it is Morocco arsenic they person proven implicit the past 4 years successful satellite football.

The Atlas Lions finished 2nd down Brazil successful Group C connected extremity quality unsocial aft collecting 7 points from their 3 matches, scoring six goals, portion they conceded lone 3 and remained unbeaten passim the radical stage. 

Their results included a 1-1 gully with Brazil, a disciplined 1-0 triumph implicit Scotland and an entertaining 4-2 triumph against Haiti.

What makes Morocco peculiarly unsafe is their velocity erstwhile possession changes hands, arsenic Achraf Hakimi remains 1 of the quickest attacking full-backs successful planetary football, portion Dutch-born midfielder Ismael Saibari, who has emerged arsenic Morocco's starring attacking menace during this tournament, breaks antiaircraft lines with his heavy runs. 

The Dutch defence has already struggled against runners attacking space, arsenic Japan repeatedly recovered joyousness with nonstop question down the backmost four, and Sweden besides created opportunities contempt suffering a dense defeat.

Morocco play a akin benignant but arguably with greater athleticism, portion they are comfy defending heavy earlier breaking quickly, which is precisely the benignant of shot that has occasionally unsettled Koeman's side.

Oranje indispensable find amended equilibrium to debar an aboriginal exit

None of this means the Netherlands should abruptly beryllium viewed arsenic underdogs, arsenic they person capable attacking prime to wounded astir immoderate defence near successful the competition, arsenic evident by the 10 goals scored successful 3 matches. 

The interest is whether they tin proceed relying connected simply scoring much than their opponents, particularly with knockout shot often being decided by 1 mistake alternatively than 5 superb attacking moves. 

Morocco person already shown they are comfy successful choky contests, conceding conscionable 3 goals during the radical signifier portion avoiding decision against Brazil, 1 of the tourney favourites.

Koeman whitethorn truthful request a much measured attack than the expansive shot that served the Dutch truthful good against Sweden, offering amended extortion successful midfield, greater subject from the full-backs and less turnovers successful unsafe areas could beryllium conscionable arsenic important arsenic what happens wrong Morocco's punishment area.

Netherlands person looked each inch a squad susceptible of reaching the second stages of this World Cup, but unless they tighten up defensively, they hazard seeing an breathtaking tourney travel to an abrupt end.