The Netherlands were leading 2-0 against Tunisia at the break in their final World Cup group game, but the start of the second half was delayed after Tunisia took to the pitch with only 10 players
The Netherlands’ World Cup encounter with Tunisia was forced to stop at the beginning of the second half due to an insufficient number of players on the field. Ronald Koeman’s team, who held a 2-0 advantage at the interval, all returned for the restart, with Tunisia’s squad following suit.
However, as the countdown to resumption began, it swiftly became apparent that Herve Renard’s outfit had only 10 players positioned on the pitch. Tunisia’s players promptly alerted referee Katia Garcia, who was preparing to sound her whistle, that they were still awaiting Ellyes Skhiri’s arrival onto the field.
Skhiri finally emerged onto the pitch, but by that point, the countdown to kick-off had already concluded and play had to be suspended after the referee recognised the situation. Dutch manager Koeman was incensed by the hold-up on the touchline and expressed his displeasure to fourth official Juan Gabriel Benítez and the Tunisia dugout.
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Meanwhile, BBC commentator Steve Wilson observed: “We have to pause, Tunisia are a man light, so the countdown was a bit early. And the Tunisia player at the back was desperately trying to draw the referee’s attention to the fact they only had 10 players out there. In fact, they still only have 10 players out there, they are one short.”
To which Stephen Warnock, on co-commentary duty, said: “How? !” Wilson then replied: “I don’t know.”, reports the Mirror, before former Liverpool defender Warnock continued: “It’s incredible. You know that the clock is going down and you’ve got to be out quicker. Ronald Koeman is furious and rightly so, he’s saying, “How is this happening? It’s unacceptable.”
Wilson then said ahead of the game getting back underway: “They only have 10 players out there. Here he is, Skhiri. Better late than never.”
The Netherlands opened the scoring when Skhiri deflected the ball into his own goal before Brina Brobbey extended his team’s advantage with just seven minutes on the clock. And while Hazem Mastouri pulled one back for Renard’s team nine minutes into the second period, Jan Paul van Hecke restored the Dutch’s two-goal cushion eight minutes later.
Koeman’s squad have been clinical in attack throughout the competition and have emerged as early outsiders following some promising displays.
The 3-1 triumph over Tunisia sealed their position as Group F champions with seven points, having netted 10 goals across their three group fixtures, including a 5-1 hammering of Sweden. They will face Morocco, who secured second place in Group C, in the round of 32 on Tuesday.