The Netherlands secured the top position in Group F after a victory against Tunisia, avoiding a match with Brazil in the round of 32. This result sets up a meeting with Morocco in Monterrey for Ronald Koeman’s side. The team will travel from their training base in Kansas for the upcoming fixture.
The match saw the Netherlands establish an early lead in Kansas City. The opening goal came when Ellyes Skhiri inadvertently directed a cross from Denzel Dumfries into his own net. Shortly after, Brian Brobbey extended the lead for the Dutch side, scoring from close range.
Despite the early deficit, Tunisia had an opportunity to score in the initial moments of the game, with Ismaël Gharbi missing a chance. The team also saw a header from Anis Ben Slimane go wide later in the first half. Tunisia managed to pull a goal back in the second half through a header from Hazem Mastouri following a corner from Hannibal Mejbri.
However, the Netherlands quickly restored their two-goal advantage. Jan Paul van Hecke scored with a header from a corner, which took a deflection on its way into the net. This goal solidified the Dutch lead and dispelled any potential jitters after Tunisia’s goal.
The match was played after initial concerns about weather disruptions. Torrential rain and lightning storms had led to the closure of the fanzone and a shelter-in-place order at the stadium, which is usually known as the Arrowhead Stadium. Fortunately, the threat of further thunder and lightning dissipated an hour before kick-off, allowing the game to proceed as scheduled, though ponchos were still needed during the second half due to the exposed venue.
Manager Ronald Koeman acknowledged that the team became too comfortable at one point during the game but emphasized that this would not be the case in their next match. He noted that many members of the Moroccan squad play in the Eredivisie, indicating familiarity with their upcoming opponents. Koeman also highlighted the need for improvement if the team is to advance further in the competition.
Frenkie de Jong, the Barcelona midfielder, was a key player in the Dutch performance, despite some prior injury concerns. He was part of a strong lineup that only missed Micky van de Ven and Crysencio Summerville, both of whom had accumulated yellow cards in previous matches.
For Tunisia, the tournament concluded without earning any points. Their coach, Hervé Renard, took over recently after Sabri Lamouchi was dismissed following a significant loss to Sweden in their opening match. Renard, who has managed five different African nations previously, including two stints with Zambia, expressed that he missed Africa and might be tempted to stay with the Carthage Eagles beyond this tournament. However, he also acknowledged that his side’s defensive performance in the early minutes was not good enough.
The Netherlands finished their group stage with seven points, surpassing Japan, who drew 1-1 against Sweden in Arlington, Texas. Japan secured second place in the group, while Sweden also advanced as one of the best-placed third-ranked teams. Tunisia, on the other hand, will return home after shipping 12 goals across their three group stage matches.
The Netherlands will face Morocco in Monterrey on Monday.
Source: theguardian.com