The "Brazil Europe" attack is the greatest threat to the "Atlas Lions"

Morocco threatens Portugal with "defensive solidity"

• Portugal discovered the skill of the "sniper" Ramos during the six-game victory over Switzerland.

  A.F.B

• Soufiane Amrabat is a safety valve in the middle of the Moroccan national team.

  E.P.E

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The Moroccan national football team seeks to continue its historical adventure and add Portugal, which may miss veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo again, to the list of its victims, when it meets it today at Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha in the quarter-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup in football.

Morocco recorded its name in golden letters in the current version when it surpassed the final price for the first time in its history, and became the first Arab team to achieve this achievement and the fourth African team after Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).

An achievement he achieved at the expense of high-caliber teams, he started with a costly goalless draw against runner-up Croatia, and a victory over the third Belgium 2-0, then Canada 2-1, before registering his name as the first non-European team to topple the Spanish matador from the final price, when he eliminated him with a penalty shootout. 3-0 after a goalless tie.

Morocco had previously faced Portugal twice, winning the first in the 1986 World Cup 3-1, then losing in the second, 0-1, in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Morocco relied on its defensive solidity, as it conceded only one goal and from friendly fire, when defender Nayef Akrad scored in the match against Canada by mistake, in the goal of giant goalkeeper Yassin Bono, the owner of the “epic” against Spain, by saving two penalty kicks.

It is expected that Regraki will remain faithful to his tactical plan that he adopted since the beginning of the tournament and his ideal formation that does not compromise its elements, focusing on blocking the outlets from the first defender, the center of the attack, Youssef Al-Nusairi, passing through the midfield led by the quartet Sofiane Amrabat, Salim Amlah, Hakim Ziyech and Izzeddine Onahi, and the quadruple defense with Sayes and Akrad. And the fullbacks Mazraoui and Ashraf Hakimi, all the way to the protector of the den, Bono.

The trio, Atiyatullah, Al-Yamiq, and Brest defender Ashraf Dari, will likely be closest to replacing the injured Akrad, Sayes and Mazrawi, in the event that they do not recover.

For its part, Portugal will try to benefit from the lessons that Morocco taught its competitors, especially La Roja, to continue its journey in the world championship and reach the semi-finals for the third time in its history after the first in 1966 when it finished third and 2006 when it finished fourth.

Portugal sent a stern warning to its opponents after its great victory over Switzerland 6-1 in the final price, and has a strong attack that has scored 12 goals so far in the tournament.

In the Switzerland match, Portugal coach Santos made a surprising decision to keep Ronaldo on the bench, and his young replacement Ramos scored a "hat-trick" in the sweeping 6-1 victory over Switzerland.

Ramos will be one of the weapons that Santos will rely on to decipher the Moroccan defense, along with Felix, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao and Bruno Fernandez.

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■ This is their third confrontation, as Morocco won 1-3 in 1986, and lost 1-0 in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

■ 11 times they faced a European and an African team in the knockout rounds. The Europeans won nine times, and the Africans only twice. Senegal defeated Sweden 2-1 in 2002, and Morocco beat Spain on penalties.

■ Morocco seeks to set an African historical record by being the first team from the "brown continent" to reach the round of four, after Cameroon 1990, Senegal 2002, and Ghana 2010 failed to do so.

■ This is the third time that Portugal has reached the quarter-finals, after the World Cup England 1966 and Germany 2006.

■ Portugal scored six goals in Switzerland, which are the same goals in its last eight previous matches in the World Cup.

■ Regragui became the first Arab and African coach to lead his team in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, and has the longest series without defeat in the World Cup (two draws and two victories).

 To view an electronic supplement .. the World Cup teams, 

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