Bro, hold on tight! What a match we saw last night! Morocco struck and knocked the Netherlands out of the 2026 World Cup on penalties, 4-3, after a 1-1 draw in extra time. I was sitting on Fane's terrace with the boys, my heart pounding like a flea. Gică Dinamovistul (who's a Netherlands fan because they play "beautiful football") shut his mouth after the last penalty. For real, it was dramatic!
Let me tell you how it went. The Netherlands opened the scoring in the 72nd minute through Cody Gakpo, after a blunder in the Moroccan defense. I said, "That's it, it's over, the Netherlands are too strong." But Morocco didn't give up. In the 90+1st minute, Issa Diop equalized with a header from the six-yard box. Sit down, boss! That's how it's done! I jumped off my seat on the terrace and spilled my beer.
In extra time, Morocco had 81% possession in the first half but didn't score. Rahimi had a huge chance in the 97th minute, but goalkeeper Verbruggen saved it like in the movies. I crossed myself, what reflexes! The match went to penalties, where the Moroccans were cooler. For the Netherlands, Koopmeiners and Weghorst scored; for Morocco, Rahimi, Talbi, and Saibari scored. Missed for the Netherlands: Kluivert (hit the bar), Timber (wide), and Summerville (saved by Bono. Well done, Bono!). For Morocco, El Aynaoui (crossbar) and Hakimi (bar) missed. Saibari converted the decisive penalty. Bro, I cried with laughter when I saw Gică Dinamovistul making a scene because he lost the bet. I won a ticket - 50 lei from him! Brian, my boy, took pictures of the screen, saying it was like in EAFC.
What I liked about Morocco? They were more offensive, they controlled the game. In the group stage, they finished 2nd with 5 points (4-2 vs Haiti, 1-0 vs Scotland, 1-1 vs Brazil). The Netherlands finished 1st in their group with 7 points (3-1 vs Tunisia, 5-1 vs Sweden, 2-2 vs Japan). But today, Morocco was above them. Now, in the round of 16, Morocco plays on July 4th against Canada, who eliminated South Africa 1-0. I say Morocco goes further.
Oh, and this thing about the "Afellay Plan" - Morocco's strategy of bringing in players from the diaspora. Mazraoui, Amrabat, Salah-Eddine - those born in the Netherlands chose to play for their parents' country. Good for them! And look how they got revenge on the Netherlands. If you ask me, this is real football: with soul, with pride, not with money. I kept thinking about this story while drinking a beer with Fane. That's how it is, bro, when you have ambition, you can strike. Now, let's see if Brian will ever make it to the World Cup. I believe in him!
