Pierre Van Hooijdonk and Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit out at Ronald Koeman after World Cup exit | OneFootball

Ronald Koeman came under fire after the Netherlands were knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco in the round of 32 in the early hours of Tuesday, with Pierre Van Hooijdonk and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among the critics.

According to Glorioso 1904, Van Hooijdonk, who spent 2000/01 at Benfica, was particularly unhappy with the way the penalties were taken and offered a tactical debrief.

The former Netherlands international, whose son plays in Portugal, argued Morocco were far superior and said the initial plan should have been abandoned once it was clear it was not working. He added that Morocco are a good side but not France, and felt the Dutch approached the match as if they were facing France.

Ibrahimovic also took aim at the coach, who worked at Benfica in 2005/06. He said the defeat was on Koeman because he did not recognise this Netherlands team and felt they lost with an identity that was not theirs, which irritated him.

The pundit maintained that Koeman appeared like an Italian coach set up not to lose, whereas the Dutch ethos is to play to win. He added that if you are going to lose, at least do so with your own identity rather than changing it.

Source: Glorioso 1904