Zlatan Ibrahimovic blames Ronald Koeman for Netherlands' World Cup exit
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has slammed Ronald Koeman for abandoning the Netherlands' attacking identity following their World Cup elimination against Morocco.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Wouter Engler
The Netherlands crashed out of the World Cup in the round of 32 after a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Morocco in Monterrey. Despite Cody Gakpo opening the scoring, the Dutch side failed to protect their lead and eventually fell 3-2 on penalties.
Ronald Koeman faced intense scrutiny for deploying a defensive five-man backline—a move he hadn't used in 32 matches. The decision prompted a scathing critique from Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his punditry work on FOX Sports.
This defeat is Koeman's fault because I didn't recognise this Dutch team. He lost with an identity that is not the Dutch identity. That makes me angry. I was always taught: attack, attack, attack. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry echoed these sentiments, noting that the substitution of a midfielder for a defender signaled a fear of the opponent that was uncharacteristic of the Dutch national team. With mounting pressure and internal inquests underway, reports suggest Koeman is currently deliberating his future as head coach.