Koeman: I don't care about the criticism

After the Netherlands were eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the World Cup Round of 32, head coach Ronald Koeman owned his tactical choice. The Netherlands bowed out after the tie finished 1-1 in regulation and extra time, losing 3-2 in the penalty shootout.

At the heart of the criticism was Koeman's switch from the setup that had taken the team successfully through the group to a more defensive back five. Even so, the coach made clear he had no regrets about the choice. In Koeman's words, the whole of the Netherlands had wanted to play with five at the back; and when they did, they were criticized again. The coach stressed that this criticism does not concern him and said he would make the same decision again in the same situation.

Koeman also argued that a plan agreed before the match cannot be criticized in hindsight when the result does not come as hoped. The coach said that, given the quality of the opponent, playing more openly would have carried great risk. Even so, he accepted that his team had not created enough, conceding the point.

In the match, despite having more of the ball and controlling the tempo for long spells, the Netherlands could not convert their clear chances. Going ahead through Cody Gakpo's second-half goal, the Netherlands could not protect the advantage after conceding in stoppage time, and the match went to penalties. Three of the Netherlands' kicks in the shootout were missed.

The early exit increased the pressure on Koeman, who said he would not rush over his future. Saying he has not yet resigned, Koeman said he would assess the situation calmly. The Netherlands' exit and Koeman's future remain among the most talked-about topics after the tournament.

Image: Goal