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One of the fixtures in the brand-new round of 32 comes to Guadalupe on Monday night, as the Netherlands and Morocco, two teams ranked within FIFA's top 10, go head-to-head.
After being held by Japan on Matchday 1, Ronald Koeman's Oranje had little trouble dispatching both Sweden and Tunisia to finish top of their group. Nevertheless, the Dutch will feel hard done by with how their bracket has unfolded. A clash against 2022 semifinalists Morocco is the prize for a fairly strong group stage performance.
The Atlas Lions, who announced themselves on the world stage in Qatar and are the reigning Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions, were hardly underdogs heading into the World Cup. Ranked seventh globally, marginally ahead of the Dutch, Mohamed Ouahbi's side are a genuine contender and even a potential dark horse to lift the trophy this summer.
Their campaign opened with a 1–1 draw against Brazil before Scotland and Haiti were dispatched with differing levels of ease. They twice found themselves trailing on Matchday 3 against Haiti but rallied to claim a 4–2 victory. However, Brazil's convincing win over the Tartan Army meant Morocco ended up as runners-up in Group C.
This promises to be an exciting contest, with the winners facing either South Africa or Canada in the last 16.
Netherlands vs. Morocco Score Prediction
Hard-Fought Knockout Tie Goes All the Way
The Dutch have frequently promised more than they've delivered under Koeman, yet the former defender appears to have found a workable system on this side of the Atlantic. Brian Brobbey is the Oranje's wildcard, with his physicality and ability to hold up play helping Koeman's side operate effectively in the attacking third.
A fierce battle for midfield dominance is all but guaranteed in what marks the first World Cup meeting between these two nations since 1994, a game the Netherlands won 2–1.
The winner of this tie will feel greatly encouraged about their World Cup prospects, particularly given the potential round of 16 opposition. Elimination will feel cruel for whichever side goes out, as both teams will believe they still had much more to contribute in North America.