Following Morocco’s victory over the Netherlands in a World Cup last-32 match, 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 to the next round.
In Amsterdam, the Moroccan community celebrated joyously after the 6 am kick-off. Car horns sounded, and fans waved flags, with a general atmosphere of camaraderie between Dutch and Moroccan supporters. Police presence was noted in Mercatorplein square, an area that has previously seen disturbances after Morocco games, but this time, the celebrations remained peaceful.
However, the situation in The Hague was different. Reports indicate that police were targeted with bottles and fireworks an hour after the match ended. A regional news station stated that at least 10 individuals, believed to be Morocco fans, were arrested in The Hague following attacks on law enforcement. Additionally, four Morocco fans were arrested in Rotterdam, though the reasons for these arrests were not specified.
Match details and player performances
The game itself was a closely contested affair, ending 1-1 after 90 minutes and remaining scoreless through 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 match. Achraf Hakimi, earning his 100th cap, hit the crossbar, and Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made several key saves to keep the score level for a significant portion of the game.
The Netherlands took the lead with 18 minutes remaining when Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo scored. However, Issa Diop’s powerful header in stoppage time equalised for the African side. Jorrel Hato made his World Cup debut for the Netherlands, coming on as a substitute in the final minutes of normal time.
Despite the Dutch team’s efforts, including a save by Verbruggen from Soufiane Rahimi in extra time, the match went to a penalty shootout. Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders remained on the bench during the shootout. The Dutch missed three of their spot-kicks, and Ismail Saibari converted the decisive penalty, securing a 3-2 win for Morocco and sending them to the last-16, where they will face Canada.
Community and political context
The match carried additional significance due to the large Moroccan community in the Netherlands, numbering approximately 440,000 people. Before the game, many individuals of Moroccan descent faced questions about which team they would support. While often good-natured, this dilemma highlighted underlying tensions.
The debate around loyalty has been amplified by figures like far-right politician Geert Wilders, who has a history of making critical comments about the Moroccan community and Islam. Wilders used social media to post an AI-generated image of himself as a referee giving a red card to a Morocco player before the game, and later congratulated Morocco on their victory.
Some Dutch-Moroccan players have cited the rise of Wilders and other right-wing populist parties as a reason for increasingly choosing to represent Morocco. While Ibrahim Afellay, who was capped 53 times for the Netherlands, supported Morocco in this instance, it has been over a decade since a player of Moroccan heritage played for the Dutch national team. Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat, and Anass Salah-Eddine, all born in the Netherlands, chose to play for Morocco, leading to criticism from some politicians and commentators regarding their perceived loyalty.
The match and its aftermath have brought discussions on social cohesion to the forefront, contrasting the peaceful celebrations in Amsterdam with the incidents of unrest in other cities. The Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported on the police being pelted with bottles and fireworks in The Hague.
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Source: theguardian.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
