World Cup
Van Dijk eyes Morocco clash in Monterrey after group win
The Netherlands national team (Oranje) will face Morocco in the knockout round at the CF Monterrey stadium, with captain Virgil van Dijk eager for his first visit to Mexico, after the side topped their group by scoring ten goals and conceding four.
Oranje entered the knockout stage as group winners, having netted ten goals while conceding four. Their tally included a 5‑1 victory over Sweden and a win against Japan, though the opponents were not among the tournament’s highest‑rated sides.
Captain Virgil van Dijk said, “We zijn tevreden, we hebben onze plicht gedaan en we zijn verder”. He added, “We have two goals against us from set pieces, that must also be better.”
Van Dijk, who plays for Liverpool, rated Morocco alongside Brazil as top opponents, stating, “Marokko of Brazilië, beide teams zijn in mijn ogen top”. He noted that Morocco’s quality exceeds that of Tunisia, a side they previously beat.
Striker Brian Brobbey echoed the confidence, declaring, “Zeker, wij zijn ready hoor”. Brobbey, who scored in the group stage, praised Morocco’s players as very good.
Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen said, “Op naar Monterrey en naar Marokko”. He recalled that the last clean sheet for the Netherlands came in November 2025 against Lithuania, and that the team has allowed nine goals in seven internationals since then.
Defender Denzel Dumfries compared the upcoming tie to a derby, saying, “Marokko heeft een goede ploeg, het voelt een beetje als een derby”. He mentioned following Hakimi’s performances at Internazionale as a reference for Moroccan talent.
The squad will need to tighten defensive lapses, especially from set‑piece situations, if they are to avoid a repeat of the four goals conceded in the group phase and progress further in the tournament.
The insights were reported by Mikos Gouka, writing from the United States. The article was last updated at 07:42 on 26 June 2026.