Netherlands goalkeeper: Morocco is a difficult competitor and Tunisia is a stubborn team sports

Dutch national team goalkeeper Bart Verbrugen confirmed that his country is entering the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with great confidence, but stressed that facing Morocco in the round of 32 will be difficult.

The Dutch national team achieved a valuable victory, 3-1, over the Tunisia national team, in the third (final) round of the sixth group of the group stage of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Dutch team, which dreams of winning the World Cup for the first time in its history, rose to 7 points at the top of the group standings, to face Morocco, the runner-up of Group C, in a fiery confrontation in the round of 32 in the Mexican city of Monterrey.

In Kansas City, the Netherlands’ first goal came through friendly fire, after Elias Skhiri, a Tunisian player, scored an early own goal in the third minute, before Brian Brobbey added the second goal in the seventh minute.

Hazem Al-Masturi reduced the difference after scoring a goal for Tunisia in the 54th minute, but Jan-Paul van Hecke added the third goal for the Netherlands in the 62nd minute.

Verbruchen said after the match: “We scored 10 goals, were undefeated, and topped the group, and this gives us a lot of confidence. But I also believe that we have more to offer.”

He added that the Dutch team will focus entirely on facing Morocco, saying: “Morocco is a very strong team, and it will be a difficult competitor, so we are only thinking about this match and not looking beyond it.”

Verbruchen praised the performance of the Tunisian team, stressing that it forced the Netherlands into a complicated match, and said: “We had to force them to leave their defensive areas so that we would have more space.”

The Dutch goalkeeper concluded his speech by praising the Carthage Eagles team, saying: “I have all the respect for the Tunisian team. It is a stubborn, organized team with technical quality.”

The Netherlands national team, which is playing in the World Cup for the 12th time, opened its tournament campaign with a 2-2 draw with Japan, before achieving a sweeping 5-1 victory over Sweden in the second round.