Former Top Footballer Hedwiges Maduro Expresses Major Concerns Ahead of Netherlands-Morocco Clash

For the Dutch national team, Oranje, against Morocco, there's essentially only one mission: win. This is also to avoid a wave of reactions and discussions, at least according to Maduro. "If we lose to Morocco, we'll truly hear about it for years. They'll claim Morocco is better than the Netherlands," Maduro states in the Sportnieuws.nl World Cup Football Podcast.

The former top footballer, who played for clubs like Ajax and the Dutch national team, then expresses his concerns about safety in the country. "I expect a lot of things to happen, whether Morocco wins or loses…," Maduro predicts, primarily referring to potential unrest on the streets. "There will be a lot of emotions involved: joy or disappointment. I'm genuinely worried."

According to Robert Maaskant, the star players of the Atlas Lions also play a significant role. "I find it very positive that the role models of the Moroccan team, who also have ties to the Netherlands, articulate themselves fantastically in the press. When I look at Ismael Saibari, Anass Salah-Eddine, and Sofyan Amrabat, they speak with so much respect about the Netherlands and their friends in the Eredivisie."

"It would be great, and this is also the strength of the Moroccan community, if they highlight these young men. There's an incredible amount of trouble with Moroccan youth in the Netherlands, but this is the other side of the spectrum. That's also good to see sometimes. Let's hope everything goes well, regardless of the result."

Maaskant, in any case, plans to take precautions, he says with a broad grin. "I have quite a few Moroccan friends, but if we lose, I obviously won't be seeing them for a few weeks. They're not *that* good of friends," Maaskant jokes. "No, that rivalry is part of it. Whether it's against Germans, English, Belgians, or Moroccans."

Subsequently, the sporting chances of Oranje against Morocco are also highlighted. Maaskant certainly hopes that national coach Ronald Koeman won't be too preoccupied with the weather conditions. "He's a conservative coach, of course, but I'm a bit anxious that he'll soon say: when it's warm, we need to slow down the game. No, that's precisely what you shouldn't do."

"I understand that the opponent has to run more, and that you have more control if you have a lot of possession. But we need to move away from wanting 'control' in such a match. Just play to win. Because then we are probably better than Morocco. If we put those two teams side by side and we go all out for the win, then we will be the dominant side," Maaskant concludes.

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