The Netherlands secured top spot in Group F with a composed 3-1 victory over Tunisia in Kansas City, a result that steers Ronald Koeman’s side away from a daunting last-32 clash with Brazil and instead sets up a meeting with Morocco in Monterrey.

On a rain-soaked evening at Arrowhead Stadium, the Dutch capitalised ruthlessly on Tunisia’s defensive frailty. The breakthrough came inside three minutes when Ellyes Skhiri, under pressure from Denzel Dumfries’ low cross, sliced the ball into his own net. The early blow rattled the North Africans and the Netherlands pressed home their advantage almost immediately.

Four minutes later, Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey pounced for his third goal of the tournament. Virgil van Dijk rose highest to meet a Tijjani Reijnders free-kick, nodding the ball back across goal, where Brobbey reacted quickest to lash in from close range. With a two-goal cushion and their supporters orchestrating Mexican waves in the stands, the Dutch appeared to be cruising.

Tunisia, however, briefly threatened a revival after the interval. Having weathered further pressure to reach half-time without additional damage, they halved the deficit in the 54th minute when Hazem Mastouri met Hannibal Mejbri’s corner with a firm header that beat the Dutch defence.

Any sense of jeopardy was short-lived. The Netherlands restored their two-goal lead just minutes later, again from a set piece. Reijnders delivered another dangerous corner and Jan Paul van Hecke rose to meet it, his header taking a deflection on its way past the stranded goalkeeper.

The result leaves the Netherlands on seven points, edging Japan to first place in the group and confirming a second-round tie against Morocco. Japan’s 1-1 draw with Sweden in Arlington secured them second spot, while the Swedes advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.

Koeman, though satisfied with his side’s efficiency, urged caution as the knockout phase looms. He highlighted Morocco’s attacking threat and technical quality, noting that many of their players are familiar to Dutch fans from the Eredivisie.

For Tunisia, the defeat capped a disastrous campaign in which they conceded 12 goals in three matches. Newly appointed coach Herve Renard, brought in after Sabri Lamouchi’s dismissal, could not halt the slide as his team followed a 5-1 loss to Sweden and a 4-0 defeat by Japan with another heavy reverse. Renard admitted his side had fallen well short of the standard required and called for a thorough review by the Tunisian federation.