01/07/2026 04:33 - Deportes
The Netherlands national team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 16 after falling 3-2 in a penalty shootout against Morocco, following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of play. But beyond the sporting defeat, what caused the greatest commotion was the way the team said goodbye to the tournament: by abandoning the identity that made it famous worldwide.
Manager Ronald Koeman became the center of criticism for implementing a defensive system that contradicts the historical philosophy of Dutch football, known as "Total Football".
Against Morocco, Koeman lined up a five-man defense and surrendered possession to the opponent. The result was telling: the Netherlands had only 30% possession, an unthinkable statistic for a team that historically prioritized controlling the game.
The former Barcelona player had already shown signs in the group stage: against Japan, after taking the lead, he pulled back with four substitutions and switched to a five-man defense. Japan ended up equalizing in the final stretch.
Nigel de Jong, sporting director of the Dutch federation, confirmed that the objective was to reach the semifinals and the ambition was to become world champions.
"We were far from achieving it, that's the conclusion. 'Disappointment' is the most appropriate word," he acknowledged after the elimination.
Total Football is a playing philosophy that the Netherlands forged in the 1970s, when Rinus Michels perfected the idea originated by Englishman Jack Reynolds. The system was characterized by:
With Michels on the bench and Johan Cruyff on the field, the Dutch became the "Clockwork Orange" and dazzled at the 1974 World Cup in Germany, although they lost the final against the host nation.
The former Swedish striker, trained at Ajax's famous youth academy, did not hold back in his criticism:
"This defeat is Koeman's fault, because I didn't recognize this Dutch team. It lost with an identity that isn't the Dutch identity. I was always taught: attack, attack, attack. This is not the Dutch identity. Today, Koeman looked like an Italian manager, playing not to lose, while the Netherlands always plays to win. If you lose, at least lose with your own identity and don't change it."
The former player, a contemporary of Cruyff and Euro 1988 champion with Van Basten, strongly questioned the approach:
"Morocco played like the Dutch play. I wonder what the team's forwards really thought when they saw the lineup."
| Competition | Round of 16 - 2026 World Cup |
|---|---|
| Result | 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, Morocco wins 3-2 on penalties |
| Date | June 29, 2026 |
| Venue | Monterrey Stadium |
| Morocco's Next Opponent | Canada in Round of 16 (July 4, 2026 in Houston) |
With this defeat, the Netherlands matched Spain with 4 World Cup penalty shootout eliminations (1998 vs Brazil, 2014 vs Argentina, 2022 vs Argentina, 2026 vs Morocco).
Nigel de Jong did not want to discuss the manager's continuity, but made it clear that the team's performance was not positive: "We will meet and have to close this chapter in the best way possible, however difficult it may be."
Sources: TyC Sports, EFE Agency
Alfredo S. Quiroga
