PREVIEW: Netherlands and Morocco clash in giant World Cup round of 32 clash | OneFootball

The Netherlands and Morocco go head to head in Guadalajara to determine who faces Canada in the round of 16, both having impressed on their route to the World Cup’s inaugural round of 32.

Topping their group that contained both a rejuvenated Sweden and one of the tournaments dark horses in Japan, the Netherlands look the strongest they’ve been at a World Cup for sometime.

The emergence of a real goalscoring output in Brian Brobbey has only helped the Koeman’s cause as they already have a really strong spine containing so much Premier League quality.

After a tense and hard-fought 2-2 draw with Japan in their first game, the Dutch responded by thrashing Sweden 5-1 in their next game with braces for Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo as Crycensio Summerville also scored off the bench.

They then topped the group with a 3-1 victory over Tunisia which has avoided a face-off with Brazil as was the case for their group runners-up Japan.

The Dutch now face the defending African Cup of Nations champions and one of the outsiders for this year’s tournament.

The North-Africans have themselves picked up seven points from their group stage after a really strong performance against Brazil and slightly comfortable wins over Haiti and Scotland.

They haven’t looked as impressive as the Dutch but Morocco have a slew of really talented players that can and have changed games in an instant.

Head coach Mohammed Ouahbi has put together a side capable of competing with anyone and one that has become Africa’s best footballing nation.

Semi-finalists at Qatar in 2022, Morocco will be eager to re-create their successes and given how well they performed against Brazil, that could be possible.

Both sides had already confirmed their places in the next round by the time they played their final group stage games so both teams heavily rotated in order to keep freshness amidst this chaotic World Cup schedule.

Ronald Koeman would be inclined to return Spurs defender Mickey Van De Ven to the starting back-line after he was replaced by Nathan Ake in the sides last group game.

Van De Ven has been brilliant so far in his role at full-back for the Dutch, and has helped make up a physical back four that seems very difficult to break through at the moment.

Elsewhere, there were some discussions that Denzel Dumfries was carrying an issue after the sides last game however Koeman has confirmed that the Real Madrid man is fit to start and will complete the Dutch’s first-choice backline.

As for Morocco, there are no fitness concerns for the African side and midfield stalwart Ayyoub Bouaddi is expected to return to his place in the midfield. The teenager has been one of the standouts of the tournament so far.

Elsewhere for Morocco, star men Brahim Diaz and Achraf Hakimi both of whom are easily Morocco’s best players and biggest stars, the Real Madrid and PSG men can make a difference at any point during the match.

The two nations have met each other just three times before, with the Dutch picking up two wins and Morocco getting just the one prior to their enticing meeting in the round of 32 in Mexico.

Netherlands vs Morocco kicks off at 02:00 (BST) at the Estadio Guadalajara, with live coverage available on ITV, ITVX, and STV Player.

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