Netherlands coach Koeman: We must prepare seriously for the Morocco match.

Thanks to an own goal by an opposing player, as well as goals from Brobby and Van Heck, the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1 in the third round of Group F of the 2026 World Cup, successfully advancing to the round of 32. Koeman's "Oranje" will face Morocco in a key match in the round of 32.

In the 3rd minute, Dumfries chipped a pass into the penalty area, and Tunisian midfielder Elyes Skhiri inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net while attempting to clear it, giving the Netherlands a 1-0 lead. In the 7th minute, Manchester City midfielder Reindes took a free kick, Van Dijk headed the ball across, and Brobby slotted it home, extending the Netherlands' lead over Tunisia to 2-0.

In the 54th minute of the second half, Hannibal Mebri took a corner kick, and Hazam Masturi rose to head the ball into the net, helping Tunisia pull one back to 1-2. In the 62nd minute, Reindes took a corner kick, and Van Heck headed the ball into the net, helping the Netherlands extend their lead to 3-1.

Ultimately, the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1, advancing to the round of 32 as group winners. Meanwhile, Morocco, coached by Wahlbi, finished second in their group and advanced to the round of 32, where they faced Ancelotti's team against Brazil.

Speaking about the team's upcoming World Cup Round of 32 match against Morocco, Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said, "I'm not sure if we're considered favorites against Morocco, but we have to prepare seriously because it will be a tough game. They are a very strong team with many high-level players and a strong scoring ability."

When asked about potential opponents if he advances, Koeman said, "I don't think it's time for us to think about those things yet. The real test is coming, and what we need to do now is to prepare for this match with all our might."

Regarding the team's defensive issues, Koeman said, "We have indeed been paying attention to this issue. Sometimes one or two players are not in the right position and fail to make timely blocks during defense. These are issues that we analyze and discuss with the players."

"Conceding goals is something that is hard to avoid in football, and we have already scored 10 goals in 3 games. We can do better in terms of game rhythm, on-field positioning, creating chances, and getting more players in between the opponent's defense."

In addition, Koeman said, "We can sometimes play more compactly off the ball. Whether it's transitioning from defense to attack or from attack to defense, we need to be able to transition faster, so there is still room for improvement in the team."

Image source: Internet