Orange Sent Home

Orange Sent Home

June 30, 2026

On Curaçao, the disaster in Venezuela dominates the news. What concerns me most is the apparent inability to organize relief effectively. I especially miss the presence of the Curaçao Red Cross, as that is the organization through which I would like to offer my support.

I congratulate Morocco on advancing to the next round.

The Netherlands failed to win and ultimately lost the match. That does not come as a surprise. After the draw against Brazil in the opening round, I already warned that Morocco was being underestimated. Only a few weeks ago, Morocco overtook the Netherlands in the FIFA rankings.

Even so, the Netherlands played an impressive match and should have won. The Dutch once again demonstrated how advanced they are in terms of tactics and strategy. Before I continue, I must say I was surprised by the crowd's anti-Dutch attitude. For 120 minutes, the Dutch team was greeted with a continuous chorus of whistles. In my opinion, that was unsportsmanlike and had little to do with football.

The decision to start the match with a back five, contrary to expectations, was outstanding. It showed that the coaching staff had carefully studied how to approach Morocco. Another example of the Netherlands' tactical strength came with the substitutions in the second half. They had an immediate impact and resulted in a goal.

The substitutions that followed were clearly intended to protect the lead, and they succeeded until the 90th minute. The Netherlands had the match under control, yet everything went wrong in the closing moments of regular time. I believe some players must take responsibility for that. It is well known—and especially evident throughout this tournament—that many matches are decided in stoppage time. Fatigue and a loss of concentration undoubtedly play a role, but mentality matters as well.

The equalizer resulted from a marking error. The Moroccan player was given far too much space to head the ball into the net, while the Dutch defenders failed to challenge him.

When extra time also failed to produce a winner, the match came down to a penalty shootout. Historically, that is not where the Netherlands feels most comfortable. It makes me wonder how much attention is devoted to practicing penalties.

Looking back, however, what stands out most is the way the Netherlands approached this match. I found it highly impressive. There is a clear understanding of the game, both tactically and strategically. That made this elimination all the more painful.

Miguel Goede