Following Morocco’s victory over the Netherlands in a World Cup last-32 tie, celebrations erupted in parts of the Netherlands, though some areas experienced unrest. The match, which concluded with a penalty shootout, saw the Atlas Lions advance, leading to diverse reactions across Dutch cities.
In Amsterdam, the Moroccan community celebrated joyously in the early morning hours after their team eliminated the Dutch. The atmosphere in the west end of the capital, an area with a significant Moroccan population, remained peaceful. Car horns sounded through the streets as fans waved flags, and Dutch fans were observed congratulating their opponents, pledging support for Morocco for the remainder of the tournament.
However, in The Hague, the situation escalated, with reports from the Dutch public broadcaster NOS indicating that police were targeted with bottles and fireworks. Regional news station Omroep West stated that at least 10 individuals, believed to be Morocco fans, were arrested in The Hague following attacks on police. Additionally, the newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported that four Morocco fans were arrested in Rotterdam, though the reasons for these arrests were not specified.
Match details and player performances
The match itself was a closely contested affair, finishing 1-1 after 90 minutes, with no further goals in extra time. Nathan Ake started for the Dutch side in Monterrey, Mexico. Morocco, who were semi-finalists in the previous World Cup, posed a significant threat throughout the game. Achraf Hakimi, earning his 100th cap, struck the crossbar, and Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made several saves to keep the score level.
The Netherlands took the lead with 18 minutes remaining when Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo scored. However, Issa Diop’s header in injury time brought the African side level. Jorrel Hato made his World Cup debut for the Netherlands, coming on as a substitute with four minutes of normal time left. Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders remained on the bench despite the game going to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, the Dutch missed three of their spot-kicks. Ismail Saibari converted the decisive penalty, securing a 3-2 win for Morocco and sending them to the last-16, where they are scheduled to face Canada. Brazil and Paraguay also advanced to the next round after defeating Japan and Germany, respectively.
Community and political discussions
The match brought to the forefront discussions about identity and loyalty within the Netherlands, home to approximately 440,000 people of Moroccan descent. While many interactions were described as good-natured, with former manager Ron Jans discussing the dilemma with pundit Ibrahim Afellay on Dutch national television, online discourse was more contentious.
Far-right politician Geert Wilders, known for his criticism of the Moroccan community in the Netherlands, used social media to congratulate Morocco on their triumph. The debate on social cohesion is expected to continue, but the camaraderie observed among fans in Amsterdam highlighted a more pleasant reality compared to online interactions. Three members of Morocco’s squad, Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat, and Anass Salah-Eddine, were born in the Netherlands but chose to represent Morocco.
Other World Cup knockout games are scheduled, with Manchester City players Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki set to play their first knockout matches on Tuesday. Norway will play Ivory Coast in Dallas at 18:00 (UK), followed by France taking on Sweden in New Jersey at 22:00 (UK).
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Source: theguardian.com
