Morocco to be 'real test' for stout Netherlands team, says coach Koeman

[p]The Dutch finished the group stage with seven points and 10 goals scored, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koeman-ronald/vHeYAvb2/"]‌Koeman[/a] said attention had already turned to Monday's knockout clash in Monterrey, Mexico, ‌where any thoughts of a favourable path through the tournament would be put aside.[/p][p][b]"I'm not ‌sure if we are the favourite in the match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a],"[/b] Koeman ‌told reporters. [b]"We need to prepare for Morocco, because it'll be a big game. It's a good team with a lot of quality, and they can score easily."[/b][/p][p]Koeman brushed aside questions of what ‌might await beyond Morocco.[/p][p][b]"I don't think we're in a ⁠situation yet to think about that,"[/b] he ‌said. [b]"We're going towards our real test, and that's what we're going to prepare for."[/b][/p][embed guid="c75344d1-d0ce-480c-a9e8-21a74894bcb6" url="https://x.com/OnsOranje/status/2070310824200012156?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Despite their ​comfortable progress into the knockouts, defensive improvements remain on Koeman's agenda after his team conceded for a seventh consecutive game.[/p][p][b]"We do pay attention to ​that,"[/b] he said.[b] "One or two players are not in the right position, people aren't getting blocked, and that's the sort of thing we'll discuss with the players."[/b][/p][p]The coach ⁠was keen to put the ​issue into perspective, noting the potency of his attack.[/p][p][b]"Getting a goal against is part of the game, and we have scored 10 goals in three games as well," [/b]he said.[/p][p]Koeman identified greater compactness and sharper transitions as areas where his team can ‌still develop.[/p][embed guid="4cdeb540-51f3-4219-96e1-19046e65df74" url="https://x.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/2070316891172684133?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"The pace, the positions, to create more, to get more people in between the lines, and without the ball, we can be more compact sometimes,"[/b] he said. [b]"We need to transition faster, or go back, or forward, all of us together, so there's room for improvement.[/b][/p][p][b]"You never stop learning in football. There are always moments in a game where, as a trainer, you think there's room for improvement."[/b][/p][p]The Dutch will remain at their base camp in Kansas City until Sunday before heading to Mexico, where hot conditions await.[/p][p][b]"It's fine by me. It's a football country. It's ‌interesting. It'll be hot,"[/b] Koeman said. [b]"We'll prepare really well."[/b][/p][p]Koeman praised the Dutch supporters who ​painted Kansas City Stadium in a sea of orange on Thursday.[/p][p][b]"You see ‌so many orange shirts, and the songs that are being sung, and that gives you a fantastic feeling when you enter the stadium," [/b]he said.[/p][p]Now, however, his attention is fixed firmly on Morocco and the unforgiving nature of knockout football.[/p][p][b]"We'll play well and win the match, because now if you lose ⁠you go home and if you win ⁠you stay in the tournament,"[/b] he ‌said. [b]"And of course we want to go far in this tournament."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]