Former stars and analysts praised the Moroccan national team and the "manly" and combative performance of the Moroccan national team in the Spain match, and its ability to withstand a full 120 minutes, before dragging "La Roja" to penalty kicks, and winning it in his favor, thus achieving a historic qualification for the quarter-finals for the first time in the history of football. Arabic.

And the "Atlas Lions" snatched a historic qualification yesterday, Tuesday, after they won a penalty shootout, 3-0, at the expense of the Spanish national team, after the end of the original and extra time, with a goalless draw.

A good read from the "Black" boss

Moroccan journalist and sports critic Moad El-Kass said that coach Walid Rekragui and the coaching staff of the Moroccan national team "were realistic and managed to nullify Spain's strength, because the coach is well aware that he is playing with the best team that possesses the ball, and this was evident in all the matches of the Spanish national team."

And Al-Kass said - in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net - that "Al-Ragraki and his assistants succeeded in urging the players to focus, defend well, and tactical discipline throughout the minutes of the match without getting tired or bored or falling into the trap of trying to play openly, since leaving spaces for the players of La Roja would have given their attackers an opportunity to make serious attempts.

Regarding the keys to the Moroccan national team's qualification to the quarter-finals, Al-Kass summed it up in "tactical discipline through the team's defense with all its players and their commitment to their defensive roles, in addition to the brilliance of goalkeeper Yassin Bounou in the penalty shootouts."

Portugal "don't intimidate us"

This was expressed by the Moroccan coach and former star of Raja Casablanca, Radwan Al-Haimer, in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net. Al-Haimer believes that the Portuguese national team does not intimidate the Moroccans.

Al-Haimer explained, "The Portuguese national team is very strong, as it does not play on possession, but rather plays direct ball and tries to quickly reach the net, which is a method that requires a different tactic."

He added, "The Portugal national team does not scare us as much as we fear injuries, because the players made a fantastic physical effort, unlike the Portuguese national team, which played only 90 minutes and did not find a strong team in front of it that tired it physically."

Referring to Portugal's easy victory over Switzerland yesterday, 6-1.

Al-Haimer hoped that the "Atlas Lions" would recover the two-centre defense duo, Nayef Akrad and Roman Sayes, who were considered the safety valve of the only Arab representative continuing in the World Cup race.

The former player praised Walid Rekragui's tactic in the Spain match, describing it as "ideal". .

day to date

And on social media, former and current stars praised the Moroccan national team and the great performance it showed in the Spain match and during this World Cup.

Abdel Salam Wadou, a former player for the Moroccan national team, and one of those who contributed to the "Atlas Lions" reaching the 2004 African Cup final in Tunisia, wrote on his Twitter account, "A giant step towards the future. Congratulations to the technical staff of the national team. It is a historic and deserved event. Push your dreams to the fullest." .

One of the giants in this suite.

Felicitations and bravo for joueurs, staff and public marocain.

Historic and mourning!

Poussez your voter reve more loin.

👏🏿👏🏿🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/pJPVBjySdY

- Abdessalam Ouaddou (@AbdesOuaddou4) December 6, 2022

For his part, the star of the Moroccan national team, Amine Harith, who was absent from the world event at the last moment due to his injury, shared his joy with Ashraf Hakimi's last goal and the team qualified for the quarter-finals, via a video.

Amine Harit heureux de la qualification du Maroc en 1/4 de finale of the Coupe du Monde 😂🇲🇦 #ESPMAR #TeamOM pic.twitter.com/iMVvRgPn9N

— Infos OM (@InfosOM_) December 6, 2022

It is expected that the Moroccan national team will face Portugal in the quarter-finals next Saturday at Al-Thumama Stadium, starting at six in the evening, Mecca Al-Mukarramah time.