Tunisia 1–3 Netherlands: Emphatic win shows why Brian Brobbey is key

The Netherlands are now through to the Round of 32 after winning Group F. Oranje’s plan was to steamroll Tunisia, and in a way, it worked.

Ronald Koeman’s men started the group stages shakily, but by the end, they showed themselves as the best team in the group. Tunisia tried hard, but they never stood a chance. Keep in mind that the African country had to change managers because of the performance up until this point.

After a 5–1 win over Sweden on Matchday 2, the Netherlands players were dripping with confidence, and rightly so. This confidence showed in their football, as they scored twice inside the first 10 minutes.

You could say that the early own goal from Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri did not help Herve Renard’s men, but Brian Brobbey doubled Oranje’s lead in the 7th minute, and Holland was in cruise control.

Tunisia did fight back, slashing the lead in the 54th minute through a Hasem Mastouri goal, but it was not enough. Brighton and Hove Albion centerback Jan Paul van Hecke scored eight minutes later to bury Renard’s men.

Brobbey showed why defensive solidity is not a comprehensive strategy in the World Cup. Someone needs to score goals.

Anyone who can give you three goals in three games is key to the side. Bobbey is not the only one who has scored several times for Koeman’s men, but he’s the striker, and that’s something his country can count on.

It remains to be seen if Netherlands can fight past the Round of 32 into the Round of 16, but there’s only one way to find out.

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