Morocco’s tactical masterplan ignites unlikely World Cup run
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou leant again in his chair, shook his head and mentioned: “Pinch me, I’m dreaming.”
Yes, Morocco actually is within the World Cup semifinals.
Before arriving in Qatar, the north African nation had solely ever gained two of its earlier 16 matches on the World Cup. The staff’s coach had been in place for simply 4 months. Its gamers have been proficient however battling a tradition of underachievement by the nation at main soccer tournaments.
So, how has Morocco managed to high a bunch containing second-ranked Belgium and 2018 finalist Croatia after which eradicate Spain and Portugal — two of Europe’s soccer powerhouses — to turn out to be Africa’s first World Cup semifinalist and the satisfaction of the Arab world?
The reply lies in a daring resolution by its soccer federation and lately put in coach Walid Regragui’s unwavering perception in a recreation plan that’s being adopted to the letter by a selfless and gifted group of gamers.
No staff has been capable of crack the code. Can France within the semifinals?
COACHING CHANGE
The basis of this unlikely underdog story was inbuilt August when Vahid Halilhodzic — an skilled Bosnian coach who guided Morocco serenely by means of African qualifying — was fired by the federation basically due to his refusal to pick out Hakim Ziyech, one of many nation’s greatest gamers. The federation cited “divergent visions” as the rationale for firing Halilhodzic and changed him with Regragui, a former Morocco worldwide who had simply led Wydad Casablanca to the African Champions League title. Regragui was about to inherit probably the most proficient Morocco squad in a era.
SQUAD DEPTH
The staff has by no means had so many gamers from high European golf equipment. The two full-backs, Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui, are starters for Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, respectively; winger Ziyech performs for Chelsea, albeit not so commonly; goalkeeper Bounou and striker Youssef En-Nesyri are at Sevilla in Spain; Sofyan Amrabat is the defensive midfielder at Fiorentina in Italy; middle backs Nayef Aguerd is at West Ham within the Premier League, the place captain Romain Saiss was lately taking part in for Wolverhampton. Regragui’s job was two-fold: to get his gamers functioning in a system that would get outcomes on the World Cup and to get them believing they may shock the world. “I told them, ‘You don’t come to the World Cup only to play three games,” he mentioned. He has created a masterpiece.
TACTICS
Regragui units his staff up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with the defence sometimes in a deep, low block and Amrabat sitting immediately in entrance, by no means venturing ahead. Against the supposedly greater groups this World Cup, the four-man midfield line additionally has dropped additional again to create one other defensive protect, leaving En-Nesyri because the lone striker. When the opponent loses possession, Regragui has drilled his gamers to interrupt ahead on the counterattack at tempo, utilizing the vitality of full-backs Hakimi and Mazraoui to enrich the mercurial expertise of Ziyech and fellow winger Sofiane Boufal. From being remoted, En-Nesyri abruptly finds 5 or 6 teammates with him. The method requires self-discipline and excessive ranges of psychological focus. “We have a clear game plan — everyone has to work,” Regragui. “We are showing the world you can succeed even if you don’t have as much talent and money.”
THE NUMBERS
The statistics behind Morocco’s run are extraordinary. The staff has solely conceded one purpose — and that was an own-goal by Aguerd towards Canada — that means Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal have failed to interrupt down Morocco. They have solely allowed 10 photographs on course in 5 video games. They are averaging lower than three photographs on purpose and surviving on a median possession of simply 29.8% per recreation. Against Spain, Morocco had 343 passes and its opponent had 1,041. “I don’t think they have ever run as much in their lives,” Regragui mentioned. “When you put in so much heart, you give yourselves a chance.”
FANS
Helping Morocco’s gamers is the backing they’re getting at every recreation from followers who’re streaming into Qatar to look at the historic run of the staff nicknamed the Atlas Lions. Every match has felt like a house recreation for Morocco, whose passionate supporters greeted all of the spells of possession by Spain and Portugal with ear-piercing whistles and jeers. The supporters have been ubiquitous in Doha, proudly carrying across the Morocco flag and sporting the staff’s purple jerseys. Their nationwide’s staff’s solely main title was on the African Cup of Nations in 1976. Morocco is 2 wins away from dwarfing that and turning into probably the most unlikely World Cup champion.
.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper {
show: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
hole: 20px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
shade: black;
}
