Just 37 minutes into the match, the Dutch national team, Oranje, had already established a comfortable 0-2 lead against Tunisia. At that moment, Gravenberch launched an attack, dribbling the ball towards the opponent's half. It appeared the Liverpool midfielder was clearly fouled by Mohamed Ben Hamida.
Referee's Back to the Play
The Tunisian defender grabbed Gravenberch's shirt from behind, causing the Oranje international to immediately stop. He fully expected referee Katia García to blow her whistle for a foul. Remarkably, Ben Hamida also seemed to believe he had gone too far. The defender hesitated briefly, visibly waiting for a whistle. When none came, he quickly reacted and sprinted after the ball. This sudden turn of events created significant space for Tunisia.
Not long after, García eventually decided to blow her whistle for the foul. This decision sparked surprised reactions, as the referee had her back to the incident and seemed to have barely witnessed the moment. The situation was immediately discussed on NOS, with commentator Jeroen Elshoff remarking during the broadcast: "There's some irritation because of the long delay in blowing the whistle."
Oranje Breathes a Sigh of Relief
The Dutch national team started strong against Tunisia, taking a comfortable 0-2 lead within seven minutes. In the second half, Tunisia managed to pull one back, threatening to make the game competitive again. However, an own goal ultimately sealed the decision, with the match ending 1-3.
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