Getting ready for another “final” between Morocco and Spain
36 years after their last appearance in this round of the tournament, Morocco is ready to play another “final” to upset the reigning champions in Tuesday’s last-16 World Cup match against Spain.
The Maghreb team made it to the round of 16 for the first time since they lost 1-0 to West Germany in 1986 by topping their group after defeating Canada and Belgium and drawing with Croatia.
“It’s going to be a very difficult game against one of the best teams in the world, they’re among the top favourites,” coach Walid Regragui told a news conference on Monday.
“We have, however, our own qualities, and we’ve had an extra day of recuperation. If we can knock them out, it will be a big surprise.
“I told the players, before the World Cup, we’re playing only finals here. We’ve played three finals in the group phase and now it’s our fourth final.”
In the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, Spain and Morocco drew 2-2, but Regragui insisted that match was behind both teams and that his team would need to be completely focused because small details would make the difference.
“I loved our second half against Canada, when we stuck to our plan and were extremely concentrated. Against Spain, we’ll have to play the whole game like this,” he said.
Dealing with the emotional component of the match at the Education City stadium will be another challenge for Morocco.
“We haven’t been at that level for 36 years, so me and my staff will have to manage the players’ emotions,” said Regragui, whose team have conceded only one goal in six games since he took charge last September.
“It is the biggest game of our history but I hope the biggest will be the next one (in the quarterfinals). Our elders cannot replay their game against West Germany while the Spain game is ahead of us.
“I will tell the players to enjoy themselves, as millions in Morocco will be watching. We have to accept that Spain will have possession. We have our strengths, we abandoned possession to Belgium and Croatia and it worked well. Our plan is that they don’t know what to do with the ball.”
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