Morocco knock out the Netherlands on penalties and make history
One-all and settled from twelve yards: Morocco bring down another European giant at the 2026 World Cup.
Some teams enter a tournament to take part, and some enter to cause trouble. Morocco are firmly in the second group. The Atlas Lions knocked out the Netherlands on penalties — 1-1 after 120 minutes, then ice-cold from the spot — and sent another European contender home earlier than it expected.
Not a surprise anymore, a habit
Anyone who watched the 2022 World Cup knows this does not fall from the sky. Morocco have built an identity that is hard to beat: they defend as a block, concede little and, when it goes to penalties, rarely flinch. The Netherlands had the ball and the chances, but lacked the goal to close it out — and paid for it in the shootout.
The Moroccan celebrations were huge, inside and outside the stadium, with the diaspora making itself heard as ever. For the Dutch, it is the bitter taste of yet another World Cup that promises and fails to deliver at the decisive moment.
And Portugal, alongside this?
The result is a warning to every favourite: in this 48-team format, no one can coast. Portugal are preparing their knockout tie and know any slip is punished.
See also: Portugal-Croatia, the real test and the knockout-round shocks. The official schedule is at FIFA.
By Vasco Almada
Image: Denelson83, Zscout370 / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
