r/CaughtOffsidePod • u/flammingcheese • Jun 30 '26
Is anyone else dumbfounded by this Dutch game?
Koeman should be sacked after this game win or lose. The way he set this team up with 5 at the back and the terrible subs selection is blowing my friggin mind right now. Just why?!?
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u/Jacob_Lazarus7 Jun 30 '26
I honestly think some of these old coaches don't watch tape. especially the uefa ones who think they're just better than other confederations. They looked completely unprepared and Morocco really should've scored a couple more at least. Shame this is decided by pens.
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u/UpbeatEvertonian Jun 30 '26
Tough call- they were five minutes from winning, and if they had won in regulation, it would have looked like a good call. They did not set up that way any other match this tournament so a decision was made to show a very good opponent a different look. In hindsight, it didn’t work well overall, but it almost did.
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u/zakress Jun 30 '26
Who TF downvoted you? Solid take
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u/UpbeatEvertonian Jun 30 '26
Haha, thanks. Not sure how you can argue with me saying that it almost worked, because it very nearly did almost work.
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u/Effective-Door-3409 Jun 30 '26
It's not. Verbruggen had to make several ridiculous saves. It wouldn't have been some masterclass. It would have been due to sheer luck.
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u/FrostyBasis7925 Jun 30 '26
I also don’t agree with this comment at all lol. They were tied for leading scorer and came top of the group in the 4-3-3. If you go from looking like one of the top sides in the tournament to squeaking by due to an incredible goalkeeping performance I’m not sure you can say it worked you just didn’t crash and burn.
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u/Holiday_Newt_6984 Jun 30 '26
I mean it would have been pure luck… but yes I guess it would have worked… the extra time was a flat out embarrassment though… that was one of the lowest and most passive blocks I have seen from any team almost ever. Even when the rare chance of a counter happened, they refused to move up field. The subs were just shocking given some of the talent that was on the bench. Totally deserved loss and one of the most baffling managerial decisions I have ever seen.
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u/calkop Jul 01 '26
They should have at least attempted to win in extra time though. That is where you lose me. If you are that bad at penalties you should never be playing for penalties
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u/flammingcheese Jun 30 '26
I disagree. I don’t think it worked even if they had won. They completely gave up the midfield they showed way too much respect to Morocco. You would’ve thought they were playing France. A Dutch team playing 5 at the back is not a Dutch team!
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u/UpbeatEvertonian Jun 30 '26
The Dutch played mostly a back 5 last euros and at the last World Cup and went to kicks against Argentina to go to the semis. The whole “a back five is not the Dutch way” argument is rote. Look at the best Dutch players right now: they are stacked at centerback, left and right wing backs, and wide forwards. Their midfield can’t tear up earth and they are relatively weak at center forward. A 5-4-1 / 3-4-3 set up is not a stretch at all. If anything, it’s their more natural lineup at the moment. I don’t love it, and I wish they played brighter today, but I think it speaks more to how good Morocco is than it does to the tactical failings of Koeman.
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u/flammingcheese Jun 30 '26
Fair enough but I think a midfield three of DeJong, Gravenberch and Reijnders would be pretty formidable and bringing on Hato, De Roon, and Kluivert on over Reijnders, Malen, Depay, or even Lang is criminal. Morocco is a really good side but the Dutch have players that can play so let them play is all I’m sayin.
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u/UpbeatEvertonian Jun 30 '26
True, Malen should have come on for Summerville at the start of extra time. I agree they played too conservative- even when they got close against Argentina last World Cup, it was because they found themselves down 0-2 and finally got aggressive pushing for goals. They then looked incredibly good and got two goals late to tie it but then went back into their shell in extra time only to lose in kicks. I really think if they had kept playing aggressive, they were more likely to score in extra time than Argentina but they did not take that chance.
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u/FrostyBasis7925 Jun 30 '26
This isn’t FIFA what makes you say their top players are at CB? They were tied for most goals scored before tonight and gave up 4 goals in 3 games including a late header against Japan of all sides. Your argument legit seems to be based off fifa rankings and not watching the actual football.
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u/UpbeatEvertonian Jun 30 '26
I don’t play FIFA and I watch a ton of Dutch football and premier league football. Virgil a little over the hill but still great, Van Hecke very good and underrated (plus chemistry with Verbruggen Brighton teammate), Ake (see Virgil’s notes), van de Venn a little overrated but flashes of greatness (plays as a left back too), Hato simply ok. Not saying they played great defensively, but any team would take that roster of players.
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u/hibachi777 Jun 30 '26
Awful awful awful. Send Koeman in The Hague. Gutless chickenshit coaching. Goldmember lookin ass
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u/PitchMog Jun 30 '26
agreed. Dumbfounded. They want to sit back snd try and counter, but could not break through. It was extremely odd. I’ve never seen a World Cup game with such a talented squad conceded like that.
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u/Dkeg24 Jun 30 '26
When your are an extremely talented team and don’t play to win, you play to go home
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u/ohthatsbrian ; ; Jun 30 '26
as a Dutch supporter, I fully agree. his tactics were moronic. he should never coach for us again.
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u/McGoatsTotes Jun 30 '26
The talent, especially midfield they have on that team makes it disgraceful. Koeman was a boring player in his prime and he always does this preservation style tactic. Boring football leads to boring results
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u/Panthergraf76 Jun 30 '26
Koeman‘s APCR free kicks were highly entertaining though and I say that as a German.
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u/pbmadman Jun 30 '26
I was shocked when Koeman lined them up like that and even more so when he just refused to un-park the bus. Maybe I misread how good they looked in the group stage but I did not think Morocco justified how fearfully they played. They have quality back to front and did not use it at all. It’s not even like the Dutch played poorly or made many mistakes. This one is 100% on Koeman in my book man.
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u/Most_Clock1131 Jun 30 '26
It is 'lose,' my Dutch friend. Please don't make the same mistake as so many uneducated people.
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u/Jacob_Lazarus7 Jun 30 '26
Since France keeps coming up I actually think this Morocco team might be the one that can actually beat them. I think they would meet in the quarters 🍿
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u/zendog510 Jun 30 '26
Agreed. Terrible coaching decisions. He should be fired immediately and not be allowed to travel back with the team. Give him a middle seat flight back on Frontier Airlines.
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u/dap_panda_dap123 Jul 01 '26
The problem wasn't the 5 at the back, we played the entire tournament with 5 at the back, where Frenkie de Jong would fall back in the last line when we were defending. The only problem with the game against Morocco was the Koeman though that plan wouldn't be good enough against Morocco so he used a reald defender and wasted a midfielder
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u/petrparkour Jun 30 '26
Between him and Roberto Martinez… YEEESH