2026 World Cup: "Football dragged through the mud," the Dutch press unleashes its fury on Koeman after the Netherlands' elimination

Ronald Koeman, the Netherlands coach, is taking the brunt of the Netherlands' elimination in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup against Morocco (1-1, 3-2 on penalties) on Monday for his very defensive approach.

The statistic will bring no joy to anyone in the country. On Monday, the Netherlands extended their unbeaten run in the World Cup to 16 consecutive matches without defeat. But as in 2014 and 2022 (they failed to qualify in 2018), the Oranje saw their adventure end after a draw and a penalty shootout loss against Morocco (1-1, 3-2 on penalties) in the round of 32 on Monday in Monterrey. And one man is taking the blame for everyone in this latest setback: Ronald Koeman.

"A wall of fear"

In the land of Johan Cruyff and beautiful football, there are ways to lose. And the coach's very cautious style, built around a defensive 5-2-3 formation, has caused a stir in the local press. "Football is sometimes like poker; it's never wise to let others see your hand," the website Voetbal aptly put it. "Koeman kept his cards close to his chest for a long time, but an hour and a half before the match against Morocco, he had no choice but to reveal his starting lineup. The coach certainly wasn't bluffing: he opted for a prudent approach with a 5-2-3 system."

"Koeman must resign"

So much for the moderate take on the coach. Other media outlets were far more scathing, like Volkskrant, which launched into a full-blown attack, lamenting a "lamentable performance" and a "catastrophic" penalty shootout. "The Dutch spent the entire match chasing the game, abandoning their tradition of attacking football," complained journalist Willem Vissers. "It was a poor performance, both from the team and from coach Ronald Koeman, whose job is now in jeopardy. They had practiced penalty kicks, but the shootout was even worse than the one against Argentina four years earlier."

"It seems almost inconceivable that Koeman would keep his job as coach after such a debacle," he continued. "Defeat is part of the game, of course, but the Netherlands have squandered their reputation as a nation known for its flair and attacking style. Erecting an 'orange wall' was the only strategy the Dutch managed to implement. What's more, they once again failed to beat a major nation, exiting ignominiously in the second round after a solid group stage. (...) The Netherlands—traditionally renowned for their initiative, creativity, technique, and flair—primarily retreated behind a wall of fear, struggling to influence the game."

Zlatan also criticizes Koeman, his former coach

Launched at Ajax Amsterdam by Ronald Koeman in 2001, Zlatan Ibrahimovic didn't mince words when criticizing his former coach. "This defeat is Koeman's fault," the Swedish star declared on Fox Sports. "I didn't recognize this Netherlands team. It wasn't the philosophy of Dutch football. I was always taught to attack, attack, and attack some more. Today, Koeman resembled an Italian coach, playing not to lose. The Netherlands, on the other hand, have always played to win. If you lose, you might as well lose while staying true to your identity and not betray it."

Valentijn Driessen, a journalist for the Telegraaf, arrives at an inescapable conclusion: "Koeman must resign as Netherlands national team coach immediately," he declares. In a scathing editorial, he accuses the coach and his captain Virgil van Dijk of having "dragged Dutch football through the mud."

The AD newspaper was equally harsh in its ratings, awarding Koeman a 4, but with a scathing analysis. "The head coach sought to bolster defensive stability by opting for a five-man defense." "Even his substitutions failed to rouse the team from its lethargy," the publication added, also criticizing his approach to penalty kicks. "Here again, his choices—with the exception of the reliable Kluivert—proved disastrous, particularly the decisions to bring on Timber and Summerville. He had constantly made tactical adjustments during this first knockout match; in what could well have been his final game in charge, Koeman paid a heavy price for playing it safe. "