Fifa World Cup: Morocco oust Netherlands as Ronald Koeman left on brink
Under-fire Dutch boss sleeping on future after barmy penalty shootout maintains Moroccan hopes of becoming first African winners
A night of emotion, jeopardy and high drama at Estadio Monterrey ended with rapturous Morocco ousting the Netherlands from the World Cup, following a 1-1 draw and bonkers penalty shoot, and under-fire Dutch head coach Ronald Koeman acknowledging he would sleep on a decision over his future.
Cody Gakpo looked set to be the matchwinner two days after he announced the death of his unborn son Elijah, the tearful forward gesturing towards the sky after he prodded the Netherlands into an undeserved 72nd-minute lead.
Issa Diop headed a stoppage-time leveller to rip up the script, before Ismael Saibari wrote his name into Moroccan lore with the winning kick after a succession of penalties that was nervy and, in some cases, downright awful.
It is the first time in 12 World Cup finals appearances that the Dutch have not reached the last 16, at least, the depth of their failure exacerbated by Koeman’s decision to field five defenders, thus surrendering 70 per cent of possession to more innovative, adventurous and technically superior opponents.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the former Sweden striker who spent three years with Ajax Amsterdam, said on television that the Netherlands had betrayed their “attacking identity”.
In a tense post-match press conference, Koeman angrily denied that he had been “afraid” of Morocco, before being asked if he had already quit. The former Barcelona player and manager’s contract expires at the end of July.