Football analyst Hans Kraay junior has heavily criticized Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman and urged the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to hire Arne Slot following the team's World Cup elimination by Morocco.
Writing in his column for Voetbal International, Kraay argued that the Netherlands approached the knockout match with an overly defensive strategy.
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Kraay expressed long-standing anxiety over the matchup, noting the team is likely already flying back across the Atlantic Ocean.
"From the moment the draw was known, I feared we would have to face Morocco very early in the knockout phase," Kraay stated.
He believed the tournament felt like it was just beginning, yet the Dutch squad was eliminated prematurely.
"I have the feeling the tournament is only now really starting. But Oranje is probably already somewhere above the Atlantic Ocean," Kraay said.
The pundit targeted Koeman's tactical choices, pointing out that strong group-stage performances by players like Brian Brobbey and Crysencio Summerville should have provided more confidence.
"We suddenly had an exciting Summerville," Kraay remarked.
According to Kraay, the positive momentum disappeared during the tactical shift against Morocco.
"But against Morocco, the Brobbey blush was gone again," he added.
He questioned why the team suddenly used three central defenders, a defensive approach Koeman claimed had the full support of the players.
"That incredibly cautious tactic against Morocco, according to Koeman, had the full consent of his players," Kraay noted.
Kraay argued the squad would not have agreed to change their system to defend against a single forward unless heavily influenced.
