The post-match analysis centred on howKoeman's tactical gamble left the central areas completely exposed against Morocco's primary tactical strength. Van der Vaart argued that deploying a depleted engine room effectively starved the team's key playmaker of possession, rendering him entirely redundant before his eventual substitution for Marten de Roon after 110 minutes.
Van der Vaart added: "I think Morocco's midfield is their strongest asset. And then you decide to play against them with just two men? I didn't study to be a manager, but that seems a bit clumsy to me. Frenkie is only effective when you have the ball, but we didn't have the ball at all today, so Frenkie was completely invisible. And he is supposed to be our main man... Plus, Cody Gakpo scored the goal, but of course, he was barely involved either."