Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart acknowledged that Morocco deserved to defeat the Netherlands in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reversing his pre-match prediction that the Dutch would comfortably advance.
Morocco secured a place in the Round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 drawafter extra time.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Van der Vaart said the Atlas Lions were the superior team throughout the match and fully deserved to qualify.
“Morocco deserved to qualify,” the former midfielder said, adding that the Atlas Lions imposed their style of play from the opening minutes and controlled the contest.
Van der Vaart criticized the Netherlands’ performance, saying the Oranje failed to meet expectations despite taking the lead during the match.
He argued that Morocco remained the more dangerous side throughout the encounter and ultimately merited progression to the next round.
The former Dutch international was particularly critical of his country’s midfield, saying Morocco’s dominance in that area proved decisive.
He singled out midfielder Frenkie de Jong, describing the Barcelona player’s display as one of his weakest for the Dutch national team.
Van der Vaart questioned whether De Jong’s struggles stemmed from the Netherlands’ tactical setup or from Morocco’s control of midfield.
Before the match, Van der Vaart had predicted that the Netherlands would defeat Morocco without significant difficulty.
Morocco will face Canada in the Round of 16 as the Atlas Lions continue their bid to build on their historic run to the World Cup semifinals in 2022.
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