Netherlands march into World Cup knockouts as group winners

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The Netherlands beat hapless Tunisia 3-1 on Thursday to top World Cup Group F and avoid a last-32 clash with Brazil, setting up a meeting with Morocco instead.

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Ronald Koeman’s men flew into a two-goal lead in soggy Kansas City thanks to some shoddy defending from the North African side.

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Ellyes Skhiri sliced Denzel Dumfries’ cross into his own net and minutes later Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey lashed home from close range.

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That apparently sealed the deal for the Netherlands, whose orange-clad fans were entertaining themselves with Mexican waves midway through the first half at Arrowhead Stadium.

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Tunisia pulled a goal back in the second half but the Dutch restored their two-goal lead courtesy of a Jan Paul van Hecke header shortly after the hour mark.

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The Netherlands, who finished their group fixtures with seven points, pipped Japan to top spot in Group F, and will face Morocco in the second round in Monterrey on Monday.

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Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden in Arlington, Texas, to confirm second spot though the Scandinavian side also advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

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Netherlands coach Koeman warned against thinking too far ahead, with a potential last-16 tie against South Africa or co-hosts Canada.

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“We need to prepare for Morocco first because it will be a big game,” he said.

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“It’s a good team with a lot of quality and they can score easily. We know that from Dutch football.”

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– Stormy Kansas City –

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Thursday’s game started on time after a lightning storm had threatened major disruption earlier in the American Midwest.

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Tunisia went close in the opening moments when Ismael Gharbi fired over from close range but that proved a false indicator of what was to come.

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Instead Skhiri turned the ball into his own net in the third minute to put the three-time finalists in front.

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Just four minutes later Brobbey smashed home his third goal of the World Cup after Virgil van Dijk headed across the area following a Tijjani Reijnders free-kick.

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Tunisia threatened to unravel further but managed to reach half-time without conceding again.

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The North Africans pulled a goal back in the 54th minute when Hazem Mastouri headed home from Hannibal Mejbri’s corner.

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But any potential jitters were quickly dispelled minutes later when Van Hecke’s header from Reijnders’ corner found its way into the net via a deflection.

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Tunisia will go home with their tails between their legs after an embarrassing campaign in which they shipped 12 goals in three games.

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Veteran French coach Herve Renard was hired last week after Sabri Lamouchi was sacked following the team’s 5-1 hammering by Sweden in their opening match in Mexico.

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But he was unable to stop the rot as Tunisia, who romped through qualifying without conceding a single goal, collapsed 4-0 against Japan before their defeat by the Dutch.

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The 57-year-old delivered a frank assessment of Tunisia’s lack of quality.

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“We were not at the level for this World Cup,” he said. “This is clear. There is no discussion.

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“It’s a big tournament with very good teams, especially in this group. It was a very tough group. And now, the federation of Tunisia needs to sit down and analyse everything.”

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AFP

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