World Cup
Frenkie de Jong praises Morocco ahead of round‑of‑16 clash
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong said the Netherlands are impressed by Morocco’s quality ahead of their round‑of‑16 encounter in Monterrey, after the Dutch side secured a 3‑1 victory over Tunisia and finished the group stage with ten goals and topped Group D as leaders.
Speaking to , de Jong opened by saying, “We are especially happy that we have become group leaders. That was the most important today, so we are very happy with that,” reflecting the Dutch side’s satisfaction after the Tunisia win.
He added that the team prefers to score many goals even if it occasionally concedes, noting the Netherlands netted ten times in the group phase while acknowledging some defensive frailties. He said the goal is to create chances rather than worry about occasional goals against.
Coach Ronald Koeman will lead the Netherlands into the round of 16, where they face Morocco at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, with the kickoff scheduled for 03:00 Dutch time on Tuesday. The match will be the first knockout game for both sides.
De Jong highlighted Morocco’s strength, recalling their player Ismael Saibari’s impact and recalling a group‑stage clash against Brazil where the Atlas Lions left a strong impression. Morocco reached the semi‑finals of the previous World Cup, reinforcing their reputation.
He concluded by stating the squad aims to progress deep into the knockout stage, saying, “We want to win and raise high hopes,” underscoring their ambition beyond the group round. He emphasized that the Dutch side will aim to capitalize on their attacking philosophy.
The victory over Tunisia featured two quick goals before the Netherlands eased off the pace, a pattern de Jong said was not intentional. He noted that such a slowdown is common in tournament group games.