Morocco send Netherlands home after game with 5 missed penalties in shootout

Netherlands vs Morocco FIFA World Cup 2026 Football Match highlights: Hours after Germany was sent home Paraguay in a penalty shootout, Netherlands too have been packed off in a shootout Morocco in their Round of 32 game at the FIFA World Cup. Both sides were deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of extra time. SCROLL DOWN TO OUR LIVEBLOG SECTION TO FOLLOW THE SHOOTOUT IN REAL-TIME KICK KICKStory continues below this ad
Issa Diop’s 91st minute goal for Morocco has sent their Round of 32 game at the FIFA World Cup against Netherlands into extra time after both teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes. Earlier, Cody Gakpo had given the Netherlands a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute at the Estadio Monterrey. Before the goal, it was the Moroccans had the best chances to break the deadlock, including a shot from Achraf Hakimi in the second half that thudded into the crossbar.
The match is a battle between a team from Africa that stunned everyone four years ago making it to the semis and a team from Europe that should have won the FIFA World Cup at least once in their rich footballing hory (and came close reaching the final thrice).
This Round of 32 clash is also a battle that pits World No. 7 Netherlands against World No 6 Morocco, which makes it the highest ranked match in the round of 32. Ronald Koeman’s Dutch side came to the Round of 32 after finishing on top of Group F after a draw against Japan and thumping victories over Sweden and Tunisia. Morocco, meanwhile, held five-time champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw in its opener before beating Scotland and Haiti to finish second in Group C.
The Dutch have an impeccable record against African teams: they have never lost in six previous World Cup matches. But Morocco have earned a reputation for fighting on equal terms with giants: at Qatar 2022, Morocco defeated Spain and Portugal to reach the semifinals of the World Cup. This year, they have already held Brazil to a draw.
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Netherlands have reached every WC R16 since 1974. Morocco intend to end that

The Netherlands have reached the Round of 16 in every World Cup they have entered since 1974. (AP Photo)

Kansas City was drenched in fluorescent orange. For Tunisia, already eliminated after conceding nine goals in two games, this was a chance to finish with something. They were given 180 seconds before that hope began to fade.
The Netherlands needed only to avoid being overtaken Japan’s goal difference against Sweden to top Group F. They did not need to win. They won anyway.
Denzel Dumfries drove a low ball across the face of goal in the third minute. Ellyes Skhiri, Tunisia’s captain, got there first and turned it into his own net, the 12th own goal of this tournament, equalling the most ever recorded at a World Cup. Before the seventh minute it was two. Virgil Van Dijk headed a Reijnders free kick across the box and Brian Brobbey, reacting quickest, half-volleyed his third goal of the tournament past a helpless Aymen Dahmen. Two-nil in seven minutes. Given what had happened to Tunisia across this tournament, that was no surprise.
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