Imagine staying up to watch your team cruelly knocked out of the World Cup on penalties, then pulling back the curtains to rival fans celebrating in your face at 6am.
That was the unpalatable scenario for Netherlands supporters, who had to endure Morocco fans across the country taking to the streets with drums, flares and boisterous celebrations.
Ronald Koeman’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat on penalties in the round of 32 after the contest was drawn 1-1 following extra time.
Given the sizeable Moroccan community living in the Netherlands, the game was earmarked by authorities as having the potential to cause trouble and massive tension.
And it proved to be the case in Rotterdam early on Tuesday morning when police intervened at 7:30am to move on Morocco fans still partying in the street.
Footage posted on TikTok showed supporters hammering steel drums, dancing in jubilation and waving their Morocco flags around in their adopted home.
Morocco fans are seen celebrating wildly in Rotterdam early in the morning after watching their side beat the Netherlands on penalties
Police in Rotterdam are seen making an arrest early on Monday morning
There are 420,000 people of Moroccan origin in the Netherlands – meaning they are the second-largest immigrant population.
Police presence across the major cities was reinforced for Monday night’s game and given greater license to detain unruly individuals.
Four years ago at the World Cup in Qatar, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht banned public screenings of Morocco’s matches due to trouble on the streets.
They could not do so this time around given the Dutch involvement in the game.
And fans celebrated in the West-Kruiskade area of Rotterdam until the police put a stop to it at 7:30am, with people starting their morning commute.
Some Morocco fans did not take kindly to the police intervention and a flower pot was thrown, prompting riot police to get involved, according to local press.
In total, four people were arrested for assault and disturbing the public order.
One image showed police pinning one man in a powder blue hoodie to the ground while making the arrest.
And he was seen with his hands tied behind his back being led into the back of a van.
The Morocco celebrations would have rubbed salt in the wounds for Dutch fans still coming to terms with the brutal elimination.
Crestfallen Dutch supporters had to endure Morocco fans partying in the streets
Police eventually had to break up the party and there were four arrests in total
The Moroccan immigrant community is the second-largest in the Netherlands
Despite having won their group, Virgil van Dijk and Co were given a tricky game against one of Africa’s strongest sides.
Cody Gakpo fired his side into the lead in the 72nd minute, sparking an outpouring of emotion in the Liverpool star after he and his partner suffered the loss of their unborn child over the weekend.
The Netherlands were unable to maintain their advantage, with Issa Diop heading home in stoppage time.
Neither team were then able to find a winner in extra time, meaning the dreaded shootout decided who would advance.
Quinten Timber, Crysencio Summerville and Justin Kluivert all missed penalties and Bart Verbruggen allowed one effort to somehow squirm under him, meaning Morocco will now play Canada on Saturday and the Dutch are heading home.
