Morocco stun Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16 after penalty drama

This one was a real gut-punch for the Dutch. Up until the 72nd minute, nothing. Then Cody Gakpo, raw with grief after he and his partner lost their unborn son, slotted one. The celebration was all tears, and who could blame him? For a moment, it felt like *that* goal would settle it.

Then reality hit. Stoppage time, and Issa Diop gets his head on a cross. Straight to the corner. Extra time. Just like that. Morocco, now properly buzzing, nearly killed it. Soufiane Rahimi, staring down Bart Verbruggen, had the keeper beaten. Verbruggen somehow pulled off a point-blank save. They're calling it the tournament's best. Maybe it was.

All that heroics from Verbruggen? Useless in the shootout. Morocco buried 3 of their 5 kicks. The Netherlands? Only 2. Ismael Saibari tucked away the winner after Yassine Bounou stonewalled Crysencio Summerville. Another European side bites the dust on penalties. Germany had already folded to Paraguay earlier. A miserable day for the continent.

Ronald Koeman, the Dutch manager, is facing a barrage. And rightly so. He opted for a back-five, a bizarre choice that just handed possession to Morocco on a silver platter. They ran riot. Never mind the Netherlands’ 5-1 thrashing of Sweden in the group stage. That tactical genius evaporated. Morocco now get Canada in the last 16. Defender Noussair Mazraoui called it 'a huge acknowledgement for us as a national team.' Yeah, 'acknowledgement' that a defensive coach gifted them a path.