Intense emotions among the Saibari family, as Koeman makes him look like a disgrace with the title 'Eredivisie player' | Reachable for 120 minutes between five defenders

Ismael Saibari scored within shooting distance in the Dutch national team’s night match the penalty that found the winning goal on behalf of Morocco in the Round of 16 at the World Cup in North America. As a result, the Netherlands are eliminated and the Atlas Lions advance to the quarterfinals, where it will face co-host Canada.

The departing PSV player already knew in advance where he would shoot his penalty. Saibari says this after the match to NOS. It produced beautiful footage afterwards, because the Saibari family didn’t keep it dry, as can be seen on X.

''I already knew which corner I was going to shoot into. We trained on it yesterday, so I already knew what I was going to do. Then it’s: place it as well as possible in a corner, so that if the goalkeeper dives to the right side, he still can’t get to it. Luckily he went the other way'', says a happy Saibari after the match.

After making use of the decisive penalty, a lot of pent-up emotion came out with the midfielder, who decided to take off his shirt. ''Yeah, of course, of course. You’re going through at a World Cup. You’re heading to the round of 16. So of course there’s relief. Especially with the fight on the pitch. So yes: great'', continues the departing PSV player.

Now Saibari moves on with Morocco to the next round after he did not come away against the Netherlands completely unscathed, as the midfielder had to be stitched up at his eyebrow. ''I'm a bit upset, but yes: if this means we get through, then I'll take it with pleasure,'' said Saibari.

As an Eredivisie player, you can still be successful in an international final round, and Ismael Saibari proved Ronald Koeman’s stubbornness wrong. Koeman had already said before the tournament that he wanted to rely on players from major leagues, which meant, for example, that Joey Veerman was left out. 

Saibari furthermore shows how an international match should be played. With heart and full commitment, because the Moroccan PSV player proved to be simply findable as a passing option for 120 minutes among five defenders of the Netherlands national team.