Significant absences threaten Morocco.. Doubts about the participation of 3 stars against Portugal
Doubts surround the participation of the Moroccan national football team's defensive trio, captain Romain Sayes, Nayef Akrad and Naseer Mazraoui, in the match against Portugal on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The trio was injured in the match against Spain on Tuesday, during which the Atlas Lions booked their ticket to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, and the absence of the trio will be a painful blow to coach Walid Regragui.
"We always have doubts, like all the matches we have played so far, but we make the decision every time on match day," Rekragui said.
He added, "We have a wonderful medical staff that is doing everything in its power to treat the players and prepare them for the day of the matches. Their task is very difficult and sensitive in light of the lack of time, but they have succeeded so far and we have not lost any player."
The players rested on Wednesday after the resounding achievement against the Spaniards, and on Thursday they will go through a closed training session at Al-Duhail Club stadium, before they go through the last training session on the same stadium tomorrow evening, Friday.
He continued, "What is important for us is the readiness of all players, and if no one is able to play, another player will enter his place who will do the same work if not more and better, and as I told the players, the player who enters does not matter, what is important is that he be at the top of his level by 100%."
Sayes, Akrad and Mazrawi were among the most prominent contributors to the World Cup achievement in Qatar, as the Atlas Lions goal was shaken only once by friendly fire with a goal that Akrad accidentally scored against Yassine Bounou in the match against Canada in the third and last round of the first round.
Mazraoui, Bayern Munich defender, was unable to complete the match against Spain and left his place for Wydad Casablanca defender Yahya Atiyatallah in the 82nd minute, before Akrad suffered a severe knee injury two minutes later, and Valladolid defender Jawad Al-Yamiq entered his place.
As for Captain Sayes, the Turkish Besiktas defender, he was injured in his left thigh in the final minutes of normal time and was able to continue playing until the last minute.
The trio, Atiyatullah, Al-Yamiq and Brest defender Ashraf Dari, will likely be closest to replacing the injured Akrad, Sayes and Mazrawi.
The Moroccan national team is playing a fiery summit against Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium, in its quest to continue its historical achievements at the World Cup in Qatar and to reach the round of four for the first time in the history of Arab and African teams.
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Morocco,
Portugal,
World Cup 2022