Koeman Defends Defensive Approach After Netherlands Exit World Cup

Ronald Koeman, head coach of Netherlands, speaks during a press conference in Monterrey, Mexico, 28 June 2026. (EPA)

07:33-30 June 2026 AD ـ 15 Muharram 1448 AH

Ronald Koeman, head coach of Netherlands, speaks during a press conference in Monterrey, Mexico, 28 June 2026. (EPA)

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said ‌they went with a more defensive approach against Morocco to give them a better chance of winning rather than out of any fear of their opponents, after his side were eliminated from the World Cup on Monday.

Koeman made no apologies for fielding five defenders, even if he expects a torrent of criticism in the wake of their 3-2 shootout defeat following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Koeman, who has previously had to deal with disapproval after diverting from the traditional “Dutch school” of attacking football, felt playing with five at the back was the ‌right strategy to ‌overcome the North Africans.

“With this defensive approach, we ‌gave ⁠away much less ⁠than we did during the (group) matches," said the coach, who added he would decide on his future with the side after reflecting on the team’s elimination.

"That was positive, but also we were less offensive.

“You can think of the tactics whatever you like, but we gave away much less against a team much stronger than Sweden and Tunisia. And if ⁠I had to do it again, I would ‌do it the same way again.

“I also ‌know that if Morocco hadn’t equalized with that late goal, there would ‌be all sorts of compliments for me as the Dutch coach, ‌but now, probably, I'm going to be scolded for the fact that I chose five defenders, but once again, I believe it was necessary.”

Koeman said he had discussed the approach with his players, and they had agreed.

“You will ‌criticize me, and that's your right, but you watch football from the sidelines,” he told reporters.

“I'm with ⁠the team. I ⁠knew what needed to be improved. This is how I improved it. And once again, if I had to do it again, I would have done exactly the same.

“It was not about being afraid. That's not what it was about at all. Why afraid? I mean, we had three strikers on the field,” he added in a testy exchange.

“This is about a better defensive position, not out of fear, but based on an analysis of the opposition, and we can keep discussing this until tomorrow evening.

"You have your opinion, with all due respect, that's fine. But I have a different view,” Koeman added.

Morocco advanced to a last-16 meeting with Canada in Houston on Saturday.

Barcelona Take Heart Despite 3rd Straight Defeat to PSG

PSG's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) speaks with PSG's Moroccan defender #02 Achraf Hakimi during the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc de Princes stadium in Paris on October 20, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

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06:41-21 October 2026 AD ـ 10 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

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06:41-21 October 2026 AD ـ 10 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Barcelona Take Heart Despite 3rd Straight Defeat to PSG

Midfielder Pedri said before Barcelona's clash with Paris St Germain that the game would show where his team stood in Europe. Their 4-2 defeat on Tuesday suggested Hansi Flick's side are not yet among the continent's elite, but they may be closing the gap.

Barcelona arrived in Paris with a perfect record across all competitions this season, yet there was a feeling in Spain that PSG would provide a truer measure of their credentials in the Champions League, the one major trophy that has eluded them under Flick.

Their attacking firepower has overwhelmed opponents in LaLiga, but doubts remain over whether Flick's aggressive approach leaves Barcelona exposed against stronger ⁠European sides. Those ⁠concerns resurfaced when Desire Doue opened the scoring in the 38th minute.

Barcelona had mitigating circumstances. Marc Bernal was a surprise starter in midfield, instead of Rodri, while Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde were missing from the defence through injury.
Joan Garcia's eight first-half saves underlined PSG's greater comfort with the frantic tempo Barcelona sought to impose.

After another excellent ⁠Garcia save to open the second half, Barcelona clicked into gear and began to take control.

Xavi Espart, 19, marked his first Champions League start with the equaliser, displaying composure beyond his years.

Lamine Yamal also emerged as the focal point of Barcelona's attack after a subdued first half.

PSG struggled to live with his incisive passing and looked vulnerable as Barcelona enjoyed more of the ball until Lucas Hernandez's set-piece goal in the 72nd minute.

Eventually, PSG delivered one too many blows and Barcelona's resistance was broken. Their confidence remained intact though.

"Despite today’s ⁠result, we ⁠competed well," said captain Raphinha on Movistar+, adding that "it was a good test and shows that we can compete."

Flick struck a similarly upbeat note.

"We need to analyse the match, but I saw some very good things and things that we should build upon. I don’t want to be negative; I’m feeling positive," Reuters quoted him as saying.

The German manager acknowledged that PSG were the better side. However, Barcelona avoided some of the failings that undermined their previous two European campaigns under him, particularly indiscipline and vulnerability to counter-attacks.

A third successive defeat by Luis Enrique's PSG will sting, but Barcelona return from Paris with reasons to believe they are moving closer to the European champions.

Sports

Arsenal Coach Arteta Always a Leader, Says Former Teammate Gnabry

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on October 18, 2026. (AFP)

18:08-20 October 2026 AD ـ 09 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Arsenal Coach Arteta Always a Leader, Says Former Teammate Gnabry

Bayern winger Serge Gnabry is not surprised former teammate Mikel Arteta became a successful coach, saying the Arsenal boss was always a leader in the dressing room.

Gnabry, who started his club career at Arsenal, will go up against Arteta's Gunners at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday in the Champions League.

"He was certainly a leader within our team back then. He was the captain during the season we played together," Gnabry told reporters on Tuesday.

"I remember him helping us out. He shared a lot of advice with us. He was always very approachable and open.

"That just goes to show what a kind person he is. He led the team to great success. It's not that we saw it coming, but he's clearly developed further and has done a fantastic job."

The 31-year-old Germany international admitted it was "strange" to face a team coached by a former teammate, but added: "It's a special match for me -- playing against my former club.

"The club where I spent many years, I grew up there from the age of 16."

Already without the suspended Michael Olise and the injured Jamal Musiala, Bayern come into the match with doubts around coach Vincent Kompany, captain Manuel Neuer and midfielder Joshua Kimmich.

Kompany is suffering from a virus and may not be in the dugout, while Neuer is fighting to return from injury and Kimmich, who would captain the side in Neuer's absence, missed Tuesday's training due to personal reasons.

English assistant coach Aaron Danks took Tuesday's press conference and could step in for Kompany on Wednesday, but said there would be no extra personal motivation for the match.

"I think it's always Bayern Munich's victory. I know Vince would be really strong on this, it's never about anybody's individual achievements, it's always about the collective, about the group," he said.

"When you come to work with a club like Bayern Munich, you know it's much bigger than all of us."

Kompany was on the sidelines for Saturday's 6-1 win over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga but had difficulty walking and did not take the post-match press conference.

"For me, not too much changes," Danks said.

"I plan the training sessions every day, and I take quite a lead on the grass. Obviously, when Vincent's not with us, we miss him, we miss having him around...

"You have to really get him to rest, but it's a challenge. You know him as a person, he's a real leader, he works hard, so it's important that he rests."

Sports

Infantino Set to Take his FIFA Re-election Campaign to Japan

FILE -FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives to attend the opening game of the Women's U20 World Cup opening match between Poland and Argentina in Katowice, Poland, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Beata Zawrzel, File)

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10:19-20 October 2026 AD ـ 09 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

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10:19-20 October 2026 AD ـ 09 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Infantino Set to Take his FIFA Re-election Campaign to Japan

Gianni Infantino's campaign for re-election as FIFA president is set to move this week to Japan and a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with the Asian Football Confederation.

This comes after Infantino apologized last week in Zurich, Switzerland, to FIFA's 37-member ruling council — which he chairs — for “mistakes” he made in assembling a now-scrapped $4.2 billion sell-off plan for the World Cup.

The council is the main decision-making body at FIFA with a global spread of officials.
The planned meeting with Asian soccer leaders is to be held in a five-star hotel in Tokyo with the media largely excluded.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the AFC, expressed early opposition to Infantino and his plan to create a subsidiary to run the World Cup, but may have moved closer to Infantino, The Athletic has reported.

Infantino has offered to critics an open, independent review of how FIFA makes its decisions.

An Associated Press tally indicates Infantino is close to landing the simple majority of the 211 FIFA member federations he needs to win re-election in March to a fourth term. Some of the deciding votes could some from Asia.

The AFC had joined the criticism of Infantino in the wake of the proposed World Cup sell-off, but its members appear far from united. Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, has expressed support for the FIFA leader while Jordan has declared its opposition.

The FIFA Council is scheduled to meet next on Dec. 16 in Doha, Qatar.

The Associated Press count shows 87 of the 211 FIFA Member federations have indicated support for Infantino – either in individual comments or by endorsing statements of support by their regional confederations. The largest block of opposition comes from Europe.

No sitting FIFA president has lost an election since 1974. The deadline for a candidate to file against Infantino is Nov. 18.

FIFA rules state candidates must have “played an active role in association football (e.g. as a player or an official within FIFA, a confederation or an association, etc.) for two of the last five years before being proposed.” They must have “declarations of support” from at least five of the 211 members.

Koeman Defends Defensive Approach After Netherlands Exit World Cup

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