Timber relives painful World Cup penalty as Dutch hopes fade

In the quiet of Zeist’s BBVA Stadium, 25‑year‑old Quinten Timber walked out with his head down, the memory of a missed spot‑kick still fresh after the Netherlands’ early exit at the World Cup in Mexico. The midfielder, now back with Oranje, described the episode as “not easy to process”.

Penalty miss that ended the tournament

Timber was one of three Dutch players – alongside Justin Kluivert and Crysencio Summerville – who failed to convert a penalty against Marokko. The miss sent the Dutch side packing from the knockout stage, a disappointment that still reverberates in his mind.

“It felt as if the tension never really took hold of me,” Timber said, recalling the moment he struck the ball short. “You stand there and you can miss – it’s bitter when it happens.”

Looking back and moving forward

He added that the incident lingered during his holiday, haunting him at night with the question “why, why?”. Yet Timber stressed that the experience has taught him resilience, noting the extensive penalty training he undertook before the tournament.

“There’s a lot of work on taking penalties. Before the World Cup I already thought there was a chance of a series, and I prepared for it,” he explained. “The World Cup was tough – I fell against Japan and later dealt with a concussion, then faced Marokko again while still unsure if I could play.”

Timber also reflected on advice from former internationals Wim Jansen and Ron Vlaar, who both likened the pressure of a penalty to a plank between two chairs – easy when low, nearly impossible when raised. “Maybe it’s just something you have to experience again,” he mused.

Despite the setback, Timber insists he will not shy away from future spot‑kicks, comparing himself to England’s Bukayo Saka, who missed a penalty in the Euro 2021 final but later became a specialist. “I would love to try again and do it well,” he affirmed.

He also addressed the unwanted attention from a small group of social‑media users, saying, “I wasn’t on social media during the World Cup, and the support from the KNVB and Nigel de Jong helped me cope.” Timber concluded that the episode, while painful, will remain a learning point as Oranje prepares for upcoming Nations League fixtures.