Morocco’s Attacking Changes Make Them Stronger Than Four Years Ago

Bangla Press Desk:   Morocco again pulled off a stunning World Cup win in ‌eliminating the Netherlands on Monday to continue their giant-killing run of four years ago, but the team is much changed under new coach Mohamed Ouahbi with a different approach to winning.

Morocco knocked out the Dutch in Monterrey on penalties and will have high ​hopes of emulating, or bettering, their heroics at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where they became ​the first Arab and African country to reach the semi-finals.

New coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who ⁠is Belgian-born but of Moroccan descent, has rapidly put his own stamp on the side only months ​after taking over from Walid Regragui.

In Qatar four years ago, Regragui was also a recent appointment and built his foundation ​on rock-solid defence and counter-attack options, beating Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages to break new ground for Moroccan football.

But under Ouahbi at this World Cup, Morocco have a high defensive block and aggressive pressing style, taking the game to the ​opponents and imposing themselves with a possession-based brand of football that brought a deserved victory over the ​Dutch.

MOROCCO THE BETTER TEAM

They were also the better team in their opening World Cup game against Brazil in New York, which ‌ended ⁠in a 1-1 draw, and beat Scotland in Boston.

A patient Ouahbi has had to, however, deal with pointed questions from Moroccan reporters displeased that their side only scored twice in two games after playing without a traditional centre forward.

The Morocco coach has instead opted for a false nine system built around 25-year-old Ismael Saibari, who likes ​to drop deep or wide ​but also gets into ⁠scoring position. He netted in each of the three Group C matches and had chances for more goals against the Netherlands in Monterrey before converting the decisive ​penalty in the shootout to see Morocco through to meet Canada in Houston ​in the last ⁠16 on Saturday.

The coach is also a risk-taker, throwing the 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi into the key defensive midfield role weeks after the teenager switched his international allegiance from France. Ouahbi also included in the squad players who had ⁠been ​part of the side he coached to Under-20 World Cup success ​last year.
"Nobody can stop us if we play the football we know how to play," he said on Monday. "But nobody is unbeatable. If ​we get things wrong, we'll go home," he warned. Source: daily Sun
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