World Cup 2026: ‘The Orange Cyclone’ Has Lost Its Way

In the match played on the morning of June 30 (Vietnam time), after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, the Netherlands fell 2-3 on penalties to Morocco. This was the fourth consecutive defeat for the Oranje in major tournament penalty shootouts. Since EURO 1992, the team has lost eight out of ten times their fate has been decided by this “heart-stopping” method.

However, according to many former Dutch internationals, the problem lies not in the penalty shootout itself, but in the team’s approach to the match. Speaking on NOS, former midfielder Rafael van der Vaart bluntly stated that Morocco was the better team from start to finish and fully deserved to advance. Van der Vaart remarked: “From the very first minutes, Morocco played better. After Cody Gakpo’s goal, I thought the Netherlands might snatch a lucky win, but in the end, football rewarded the more deserving team.” The former Real Madrid and Tottenham star also did not hesitate to criticize Frenkie de Jong’s performance, calling it one of the Barcelona midfielder’s worst games for the national team.

Meanwhile, legend Pierre van Hooijdonk directed his disappointment at the penalty shootout and the preparation by head coach Ronald Koeman. According to Van Hooijdonk, it was hard to understand why the Netherlands abandoned the proactive style that made them so impressive in the group stage in favor of an overly cautious approach against Morocco. After a promising group stage with ten goals and an unbeaten record, “The Orange Cyclone” suddenly lost its sharpness in the most crucial match, ceding control to the opponent and ultimately paying the price.

On the other hand, Morocco continued to receive praise from experts. The North African side controlled the game for large spells, created more dangerous chances, persistently pursued an equalizer in stoppage time, and then showed their composure in the penalty shootout.

Following their historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, Morocco is proving that their success is no longer a one-off. At the 2026 World Cup, Walid Regragui’s side continues to be a symbol of the rise of African football, as the gap with traditional powerhouses narrows.

While Morocco continues their inspiring journey, the Netherlands must now face familiar questions about their mettle in decisive matches. Four consecutive penalty shootout defeats show that the “11-meter curse” still haunts the Oranje, and the loss to Morocco is seen as the price paid for a match overly filled with calculation and a lack of nerve.