Many Moroccan coaches and analysts rule out that the coach of the Moroccan national team, Walid Regragui, will make major tactical changes to the "Atlas Lions" combination that will face Portugal in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, which depends mainly on the defensive bloc with reliance on counterattacks, a method in which he has succeeded so far. Regragui in achieving the best Moroccan and Arab achievement in the history of the World Cup.
The Moroccan national team created a heavy-caliber surprise after it took out the 2010 champions in South Africa from the eighth round, and won it with a penalty shootout 3-0, to meet Portugal today, Saturday, in the quarter-finals.
Loyalty to the defensive school
In an interview with Al-Jazeera Net, Moroccan coach Idriss Abbes explained that analyzing the numbers that were recorded in previous matches revealed that Morocco plays with a late defensive block, and bets on counter-attacks, because the opponent pushes forward strongly and leaves spaces in the back. We had opportunities There is a lot in the Spain match, but we did not take advantage of it, so the bet before us was to drag the match into penalty kicks, given the strength of the opponent, which is not hidden from anyone.
Obeis believes that "the changes made by Walid Rakraki in the extra innings were very successful and revitalized the midfield and defense, and almost paid off in the extra innings before reaching the penalty kicks."
Likewise, Abbes considered that "the penalty shoot-out also proved to us that Regragui had prepared well for it, along with Bono, the goalkeeper."
He also stressed that Rekragui "has restored prestige and value to the defensive school that has always been criticized, as it has proven to be an effective solution for teams that play open games and take possession of the ball, especially in such demonstrations, where each team is looking for achievement."
Moroccan coach Idriss Abes (left) with player Ashraf Bencharki (Al-Jazeera)
How will Rerakki play against Portugal?
The former coach of the Saudi club, Abha, excludes the Moroccan coach from deviating from the tactical organization that he has played with since the beginning of the tournament, “which depends on defense and tactical commitment 4-2-3-1, which are the roles played by the attackers before the defenders, and the talk here is about the attackers, Youssef Al-Nusairi. And Sofiane Boufal and Sofiane Amrabat, who turn into the first strikers when the opponent has the ball.
However, the Moroccan coach is expected to advance something forward, "because the way Portugal plays is different from Spain, but always while preserving the defensive approach. What I really hope is that all the elements are in full physical readiness, because such demonstrations are exhausting." The players are physically," Abbas says.
He adds, "We have players with very high technical value, and if everyone regains his physical and muscular readiness, we will have great chances to overtake Portugal."
In addition, Abbes asserts that the motivation of the Moroccans is much greater than that of the Portuguese, because "for them, reaching this role is not an achievement, and a team of Portugal's worth must be crowned with the title and not just reach the quarter, unlike Morocco, which if it reaches the golden square, it will be a historic event." It is unprecedented in the region and the continent, and this is what motivates the players the most, because this match will not only enter them into the golden square, but will also enter them into history.”
What weapons does Rerakei have?
For his part, the Moroccan coach and former player of the Moroccan national team, Mourad Falah, believes that the previous four matches revealed a group of weapons that the lions have, which created the difference and outweighed his hand over the rest of the teams.
The former player in the ranks of Wydad Casablanca, he considered in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net that the tight organization and defense, and the tactical commitment of the players are the most prominent strengths of the Lions.
But he also went to the possibility of the Moroccan coach relying on a set of new cards that had not yet been discovered in this tournament.
Former Moroccan coach and international player Mourad Falah (Al-Jazeera)
He said in this regard, "There are cards that have not yet been thrown into the World Cup, and they may be very profitable for Walid. We are talking in particular about the players Al-Zaruri and Bilal Al-Khanous, especially Elias Al-Shaer, who plays mainly with his English team, Queens Park Rangers, and has very high capabilities, as he contributed to Reaching the World Cup during the World Cup elimination rounds.
And he added, "We must not forget the great public support that Al-Aswad enjoys in Qatar, whether from the Arab or Moroccan fans present there, which gives the players great enthusiasm and motivation, and this was evident in the past matches."
In need of a new incentive
Murad Falah believes that the Portugal match is very different from all the previous matches played by the "Lions", because it "comes after the great joy and hysteria of the Moroccan fans, and this is what requires the coach to prepare additional mentally for the players, and this is the most prominent given that makes it more difficult because they will need a new incentive." ".
The joy of the coach of the Moroccan national team, Walid Regragui, with the star Hakim Ziyech (Reuters)
However, Falah insists that "the Portuguese national team is not stronger than Spain, but the circumstances in which the match came and the overwhelming joy after the achievement is what makes it the most difficult for the Moroccan national team."
Falah added, "In my opinion, in such matches, the technical factor is not inevitable, but rather the physical, mental and tactical factor. If Morocco continues its tactical organization in a realistic manner, it will achieve victory, and we have all the capabilities to beat Portugal, provided that all the elements are present and they maintain their physical readiness." .
Realism... the password
The numbers of the previous match between Morocco and Spain revealed a great disparity between the two teams in terms of possession, as the "Matador" dominated by more than 77%, and its players passed the ball between them on more than a thousand occasions, which is a very large number.
However, despite this, the dangerous attempts of the Moroccan national team were more than those created by the Spaniards against goalkeeper Yassine Bono, as Morocco created 3 dangerous chances compared to two for the Spanish opponent.
These numbers confirm, according to Moroccan sports critic Ibrahim Chakhman, that "Walid Rekraki is committed to realism and knows very well the capabilities of his players compared to the opponent's players, in addition to his good reading of the competing team."
Shakhman said in his interview with Al-Jazeera Net, "We are tired of the honorable exit every time. We now want the achievements that will be immortalized in history, and this matter was well understood by Walid al-Rakraki."
The same speaker stressed that "Regragui is very known for his realism, even in his previous experience with Wydad Casablanca, and we all remember his sarcastic statement about those who ask him for pleasure. I think he is more inclined to the Italian school."
The Moroccan sports critic did not hide his desire to see the national team maintain the same approach against Portugal, "because we want to break the African record and be the first team from the continent to reach the golden square, and we are capable of that."
It is noteworthy that the Moroccan national team will be this evening, Saturday - at six o'clock Mecca Al-Mukarramah time - on a date with history when it faces Portugal on the grounds of the "Al-Thumama" stadium in the framework of the World Cup quarter-finals.