Netherlands Ready for Morocco in World Cup Round of 32: 'It's Game On'

The Netherlands national soccer team had a lot to celebrate on Thursday, June 25, in Kansas City, Missouri. The Dutch beat Tunisia 3-1 to finish first in Group J at the FIFA World Cup. Now they are set to face Morocco in the round of 32 on Monday, June 29, in Monterrey, Mexico. Both teams are ranked in the top ten in the world, making it one of the most exciting matchups of the knockout stage.

The Netherlands got off to a fast start against Tunisia. In just the third minute, Tunisia accidentally scored on its own goal. Denzel Dumfries sent a low cross into the box, and Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri tried to kick it away but put it into his own net instead. It was a lucky break for the Dutch, and they used it to build their confidence early.

Four minutes later, the Netherlands made it 2-0. Brian Brobbey powered a shot into the net after a headed pass from Virgil van Dijk. The whole play started from a free kick, and the Dutch were clearly in control during the first half.

Tunisia did not give up without a fight. In the 54th minute, Hazem Mastouri headed in a goal to cut the lead to 2-1. The orange-clad Netherlands fans at Arrowhead Stadium were not happy, but the Dutch players stayed calm and kept their focus.

Eight minutes after Tunisia's goal, the Netherlands answered back. Center back Jan Paul van Hecke headed in a goal to make it 3-1. That sealed the win and first place in the group. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen said the team never lost its strong mindset. "I didn't see confidence shake," Verbruggen said. "We've got a strong mentality in the group and that we kept momentum, kept control of the game."

Van Hecke said finishing first in the group was the team's goal all along. "Really happy about it because that's what our aim was," he said. "We said to each other before the game that we needed to be really good today because we wanted to be top of the group." Topping the group means the Netherlands got to choose the better side of the bracket heading into the knockout stage.

Now, the Dutch face their biggest challenge yet. No. 7 ranked Morocco and No. 8 ranked Netherlands will square off in the round of 32. Both teams have dreams of reaching the World Cup final. Forward Brian Brobbey said the team is excited and ready. "It's going to be a nice battle," Brobbey said. "I think we are going to be ready for it."

The two countries have a bit of history at the World Cup. The Netherlands beat Morocco 2-1 during the 1994 World Cup in the United States. That game was also played on June 29 — exactly 32 years before this upcoming match. This time, Morocco comes in strong after finishing second in Group C with seven points, tied with powerhouse Brazil.

One more thing helped the Netherlands heading into their final group game. The team set up its base camp right in Kansas City, so the players only had a 15-minute drive to the stadium. While other teams had to travel long distances across the country, the Dutch stayed comfortable and rested. Verbruggen said it made a real difference. "We know the climate here and we've trained on the pitches and we've trained in this weather," he said. "For today, it probably was an advantage for us."

Van Hecke summed up the team's mood with four simple words: "It's game on. Now, the big games come." The Netherlands are ready, and soccer fans around the world cannot wait to watch.