The Moroccans, carried by goals from Saïss (73rd) and Aboukhlal (90+2), have their destiny in their hands: four days before facing Canada, they total four units and can logically dream of joining the top-16 of the tournament, like their predecessors at the 1986 World Cup.

"Of course, I want to be happy with this victory, but we have to recover," delayed Moroccan coach Walid Regragui, keeping all euphoria at bay to urge his players to "keep this fighting spirit".

Eden Hazard and his teammates, already feverish on Wednesday despite a flattering success against Canada (1-0), are on the ropes, with only three points.

Success against the Croats, in a thrilling duel between two teams from the last four of the 2018 edition, would guarantee them a place in the round of 16.

A defeat would be synonymous with elimination and their fate would be in the hands of Morocco in the event of a draw.

"Lost the Joy"

And if they have recovered their star striker Romelu Lukaku, just recovered from an injury to the left thigh and entered ten minutes from the end, they will have to find multiple keys in defense, negligent on set pieces and easily taken of speed, as in attack, surprisingly sluggish on Sunday.

Duel between Moroccan midfielders Hakim Ziyech and Kevin de Bruyne, during the World Cup, November 27, 2022 in Doha Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV AFP

"Usually we play with great attacking animation, but maybe we lost that joy of playing, maybe because of the pressure that weighed on our shoulders," sketched their coach Roberto Martinez, preferring the track psychological to the review of technical shortcomings.

Imperial on Wednesday against the Canucks, where he notably saved a penalty, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was surprised this time by a free kick cleverly kicked at the near post by Abdelhamid Sabiri a quarter of an hour from time and touched by Romain Saïss (73rd).

And the best goalkeeper in the world was again beaten in stoppage time, deceived by a recovery from Zakaria Aboukhlal (90th + 2).

The second nation in the FIFA rankings tried to build the game, avoiding the long balls that had annoyed Kevin de Bruyne against Canada and dominating the start of the game by depriving their opponents of the ball.

"We had the humility to accept this domination, to turn our backs and defend, like a great team," said Regragui, describing a "very, very high level" tactical battle.

Regragui "delighted" with the canceled goal

Michy Batshuayi also called on Munir El Kajoui from the 5th minute, the Moroccan goalkeeper established at the last minute due to the withdrawal of the usual goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, yet present on the field during the national anthems but victim of dizziness.

Eden Hazard, rather inspired, and his teammates created few frank situations in the first period (a header from Onana, 17th, and a strike from Meunier two minutes later).

The emotion of Morocco coach Walid Regragui after the victory against Belgium at the World Cup on November 27, 2022 in Doha JACK GUEZ AFP

And it was even the Moroccans who for a moment thought they had opened the scoring when a free kick kicked by Hakim Ziyech deceived Courtois in the 45th minute.

Requested by the VAR, the Mexican referee César Ramos however logically canceled the goal for an offside by Saïss.

"You will find me crazy, but when we canceled the first goal, I was delighted. I knew that (...) we were going to want to beat Belgium with perhaps more aggression", continued Regragi.

And back from the locker room, the Moroccan formation played higher, in particular by an incursion from Sofiane Boufal, who played Thomas Meunier on the left to graze the cage with a wrapped shot (57th), gradually extinguishing the Belgians before stinging twice.

© 2022 AFP