Morocco predictions, squad details, manager and tournament odds for the World Cup 2022, brought to you by the Ranks FC team.
Morocco have made their second World Cup in a row, and after a disappointing Group Stage exit last time out and an equally disheartening AFCON campaign where they were eliminated in the quarter finals, the Atlas Lions will feel they have a point to prove in Qatar.
Who is the Morocco manager?
They will do so under new management as well - with Walid Regragui taking over from veteran Vahid Halilhodžić in September. The Bosnian has a track record of losing his job just before World Cups - he was relieved of his duties as Japan boss in April 2018, and when he was manager of Ivory Coast in February 2010.
Regragui though, is well-liked and well-respected. He has brought Hakim Ziyech back in from the cold after the Chelsea winger was ostracised by his predecessor - and he is a local, highly regarded coach who speaks both French and Darija, the local language, meaning the populace see him as someone who genuinely represents them on the world stage.
What tactics can we expect from them at the World Cup?
He’s only had a few games in charge, but Regragui’s strategy seems pretty clear - Morocco will set up in a 4-3-3 formation that will use the wings as their main form of attack, with a bias towards the right hand side of the pitch.
You can see why - it’s the flank on which both Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech will play - and their combinations down that side are a constant threat for opposition defenders. This is a team with a number of consistent performers though, and the back line is made up of some impressive names.
Who are the players to watch for Morocco?
And chief amongst these is Achraf Hakimi. Whilst in many cases it would be strange to push a right-back as a nation’s main attacking threat, Hakimi is a global superstar for a reason, and the way in which he approaches the game belies his prowess going forward.
As Ziyech drifts in from the right hand side, Hakimi is given the run of the flank, and his electric pace and ability on the ball gives full-backs nightmares, especially when paired with an inverted winger. Expect the PSG man to blitz in behind defenders time and time again to look for drilled crosses and cutbacks for his striker, but remember that he’s also an excellent dead-ball threat.
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Who is favourite to be top scorer for Morocco?
The man in the middle will be Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri. Whilst this season hasn’t been brilliant for him in La Liga, his return of 14 goals for his country remains impressive, and with the service that will be provided for him by the likes of Hakimi, Ziyech, Mazraoui and Sofiane Boufal, you can see why he enjoys playing for his country so much.
Excellent in the air and a genuine penalty box killer when he gets going, En-Nesyri is more than capable of working shooting opportunities on his own as well, taking on defenders and getting shots away on a regular basis. Morocco will need him to leave his club form at the door and assume their goalscoring mantle if they are going to progress.
How did Morocco qualify for the World Cup?
The Atlas Lions made light work of qualifying, albeit under their previous manager. They blitzed a group containing Guinea, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau without dropping a point and conceding only one goal, before hammering DR Congo 5-2 on aggregate in the playoff round.
What are the ambitions for this Morocco team?
It’s a tricky group containing Belgium, Croatia and Canada, but Morocco have a strong squad and will be confident in their ability to spring a shock. No easy task, but this side will fancy themselves to impose themselves on the group and equal the country’s best ever finish of the Round of 16, all the way back in 1986.
Morocco World Cup Odds
At 500/1, the odds aren’t hugely in their favour but fans are quietly confident that a very talented Atlas Lions team can make a statement in Qatar.
