Bart Verbruggen made five saves for the Netherlands as Morocco knocked Ronald Koeman’s side out of the 2026 World Cup on penalties.
The Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper played the full 120 minutes in the round-of-32 tie, which finished 1-1 before Morocco won the shootout 3-2.
Sofascore recorded Verbruggen at an 8.2 rating, naming him player of the match despite the Dutch exit. The 23-year-old made five saves, stopped three efforts from inside the box and finished with 1.23 goals prevented.
Fox Sports also highlighted Verbruggen’s extra-time save against Morocco as one of the standout goalkeeping moments of the tie.
Brighton Get Another Verbruggen Value Check
For Brighton, the result matters less than the evidence. Verbruggen handled knockout pressure, heavy shot volume and a tense shootout stage without his open-play performance being dragged down by the final score.
Read Brighton had already noted how Verbruggen’s World Cup knockout run sharpened his long-term contract value. The Morocco display only strengthens that point.
The tournament totals now give Fabian Hurzeler a useful summer marker. Verbruggen made 16 saves across four World Cup starts, with the last five arriving in a knockout tie where Morocco created the better chances.
That matters before Brighton return to European football. Albion need a goalkeeper who can handle long spells without rhythm, then deliver when pressure suddenly arrives.
Verbruggen’s Netherlands tournament is over, but he returns with a bigger reputation, sharper pressure experience and another reminder that Brighton’s No.1 is moving beyond promise.
For Hurzeler, that is exactly the sort of evidence worth banking before pre-season begins.
