'We completely dominated': Morocco coach Ouahbi praises players after Dutch victory

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] beat the Dutch [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/morocco-IDKYO3R8/netherlands-WYintcWb/?mid=S0MygXWj"]3-2 on penalties after ‌a 1-1 draw[/a] to reach the last 16, where they will ‌face co-hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saibari-ismael/WzSmqNMQ/"]Ismael Saibari[/a] converted the winning spot kick after goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bono-bounou-yassine/ne0lafKc/"]Yassine Bounou[/a] ‌had saved [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/summerville-crysencio/EaRET7t6/"]Crysencio Summerville[/a]'s attempt.[/p][p][b]"Morocco has gained everybody's respect now," [/b]Ouahbi ‌told reporters.[b] "It's not because of what we've said. We've now shown it."[/b][/p][p]The coach, who stepped up from Morocco's under-20 setup after helping guide the country's youth teams to ‌success, said his players were driven by something greater ⁠than football.[/p][p][b]"This team, and all the ‌Moroccan youth teams, are fighting for much, much more than just football or ​simply winning a match,"[/b] he said.[/p][image alt="Morocco's recent form" id="21bf73fd-99e9-4f83-bee7-53852bfc84f9" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="dd9031a8-f940-44e0-814c-77337eff52d9" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]"They know that behind them there are millions and millions of people. We played when it ​was two in the morning in Morocco and we're certain that most people stayed awake. That gives you the energy not to give up, ⁠to keep going and to ​believe in yourself."[/b][/p][p]Ouahbi said Morocco had dominated the match despite needing penalties to progress.[/p][p][b]"We completely dominated a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] team,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"We had 70% possession, more shots and more expected goals. We controlled the match,"[/b] he added.[/p][p][b]"We wanted to ‌stay calm, play our game and believe that if it went to penalties we had an exceptional goalkeeper. We didn't turn the match into a chaotic battle. We controlled it."[/b][/p][embed guid="18783534-5949-4b6e-b5a7-61a1f79ebc12" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2071808497885356177" social-type="twitter" /][p]Ouahbi said the Netherlands' defensive approach came as a surprise but viewed it as recognition of Morocco's growing stature.[/p][p][b]"I really didn't expect this kind of low block because the Netherlands like to have the ball and are very strong when they do,"[/b] he said. [b]"I saw this type of play as a form of respect."[/b][/p][p]The 49-year-old ‌felt Morocco's run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in ​Qatar had changed the country's mentality.[/p][p][b]"For the past few years, Moroccan players ‌believe in themselves and the supporters believe in us as well," [/b]he said.[/p][p]Ouahbi cautioned that Canada would provide another stern test in the last 16 but said Morocco would approach the knockout tie full of belief.[/p][p][b]"Nobody can stop us if we play the football we ⁠know how to play,"[/b] he ⁠said. [b]"But nobody is unbeatable. If ‌we get things wrong, we'll go home."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]