Anco Jansen slams Koeman’s tactics after Oranje’s penalty exit

Former professional Anco Jansen, who played for FC Emmen, Veendam and De Graafschap, erupted on ’s World Cup talk after the Netherlands were knocked out by Morocco on penalties, calling the tactical approach of coach Ronald Koeman “completely baffling” and accusing the players of blindly following it. Jansen said the Dutch side’s display against Morocco left him “very disappointed” and that the way the squad presented itself generated “great frustration”. He also noted that the entire player group appeared to have accepted the tactical plan without question. “It disappoints me a lot that players on such a stage just go along with these tactical choices,” Jansen told the World Cup discussion. The former midfielder highlighted that the tactical decisions were made despite the high‑profile setting of a World Cup knockout match.

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Jansen added that he could not imagine any Dutch player feeling comfortable with the system, describing the squad as being led “like meek lambs to the slaughterbank”. He called the situation “a complete mystery” for him. Turning his ire toward the squad, Jansen said, “Whoever invented this is really crazy. If you as players also go along with it, I find that very strange.” The comment underscored his belief that the players shared responsibility for the tactical failure. As an analyst, Jansen’s outspoken remarks reflect a broader criticism of Ronald Koeman’s coaching choices at the tournament. His remarks came during the live analysis of the Netherlands‑Morocco encounter, which ended with the Dutch side losing the penalty shoot‑out. The Netherlands were eliminated after a penalty shoot‑out defeat to Morocco, ending their World Cup campaign. Jansen voiced his criticism immediately after the final spot‑kick, emphasizing the urgency of his reaction.