Amrabat predicts Morocco’s shootout win over Oranje

The Dutch national team’s dressing room in Kansas City was silent at 09:02 on Monday morning. Outside, the weight of a potential quarter-final exit hung in the air. Inside, Nordin Amrabat, born in the Netherlands but representing Morocco, delivered a blunt forecast: penalties would decide the tie—and Morocco would advance. Amrabat, a 39-year-old with 64 caps for Morocco, spoke in an interview with De about the high-stakes clash. "I am Moroccan and Dutch, and it saddens me that both countries meet so early," he said. "I would have liked both to reach at least the semi-finals. But someone must go home now." He predicted a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, followed by a Moroccan shootout victory. "Who? I think it will be 1-1, Morocco win on penalties, and unfortunately Oranje will have to pack its bags," Amrabat stated. The former PSV forward, now playing for Wydad Casablanca in Morocco, also highlighted tactical similarities between the teams. "Both play tiki-taka, create many chances, but when they lose the ball, the field opens up," he said. "They have similar styles: a ball-playing goalkeeper, build-up from the back, attacking full-backs, and an offensive midfield. Morocco actually plays the Dutch school."

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Amrabat reserved special praise for Brian Brobbey, Oranje’s danger man. "I’ve been impressed by him since playing against AEK Athens. Harold Moukoudi, a two-metre Cameroonian defender and now captain, was up against him. Normally Moukoudi eats defenders alive—but against Brian, he had his hands full." He added: "So it doesn’t surprise me that Brobbey is doing so well for Oranje now."

Knockout stage: Brazil vs Japan, Germany vs Paraguay, and Netherlands vs Morocco.

Nordin Amrabat said: "I am Moroccan and Dutch, and it saddens me that both countries meet so early in the tournament. I would have liked both to reach at least the semi-finals. But someone must go home now." The quarter-final between the Netherlands and Morocco is set for Monday night in Kansas City. A place in the semi-finals awaits the winner.