We look at their qualifications, fare against their most formidable opponents, and start XI. Read on to find out! Also, learn about Morocco's starting XI. Morocco is due to face South Africa in the semi-finals of the World Cup. It is a big event for Morocco, but the country is still a long way from winning it.
Morocco has set its sights on two successive World Cups. The Atlas Lions qualified for the finals of both the 2011 and 2014 competitions with relative ease. In the World Cup qualifying process, they managed to score 20 goals and conceded just one. However, they were knocked out of the 2021 competition after losing to Egypt in the quarter-final. That was disappointing news, but there is some positive to take from this.
Halilhodzic dismissed the idea of calling Ziyech, saying he was not capable of saving the national team. In his comments, the Bosnian emphasized that the Moroccans' World Cup playoff was essential to his job. Moroccans have been critical of the Bosnian coach since their appointment, so Halilhodzic vowed not to call Ziyech. This would damage not only the national team but also ruin its spirit.
The Moroccan Atlas Lions are confident they can qualify for the 2022 World Cup despite being drawn against some tough competition. Morocco was awarded a "group of death" in the World Cup draw, and they will have to win all three games to qualify for the knockout stages. The group also includes Belgium, England, and Croatia, all of whom are ranked high in the FIFA rankings. The Moroccans' best player is likely to be absent due to conflict with their coach. But the team's defense is far from strong and will struggle to contain any speedsters.
The African team will be up against a number of tough opponents during the World Cup, including Egypt, Senegal, and Mali. The five African countries represented at the last World Cup in Russia were all in Group G. Likewise, Morocco is pitted against Tunisia, a team that has never beaten the USMNT. Their first match against the USMNT came in 1992, but it was a tough game to win.
Morocco will face South Africa in the semi-finals in Moscow on Sunday, and this match has a great deal of importance for the host nation. South Africa has the best team in the competition and will be a tough opponent for Morocco to beat. The defending champions are in a good position to do so as they have won three of their four games in Russia. However, a match against South Africa can be dangerous for both sides, and the Moroccans must be on their game to avoid losing.
South Africa has reached the World Cup semi-finals in two of the last four tournaments but has been able to grind out results. They've played some pleasing football and created plenty of opportunities, but they have failed to score enough goals to reach the final. South Africa has won their last four matches but has been a bit lethargic in recent games. Their opponent, Zambia, will be a different story. They'll play a more direct brand of football and try to find ways to penetrate their opponents.
Morocco's World Cup starting XI is not yet known, but there are a few key players you can be sure of. The young players have all been honed by their national team, including PSG star Achraf Hakimi. They'll be facing players like Christian Pulisic and Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui. The veteran players also include the likes of Benfica star Adel Taarabt and a youngster in the form of Sofy Amrabat.
The Atlas Lions are no strangers to tournament success. In the 1960s, Morocco won the Pan-Arab Games. Its team won all five of its matches, and the third match was their biggest win to date. The team also defeated East Germany 2-1 and Mali 2-0. Then, in 2006, the Atlas Lions made history by winning the Africa Nations Championship Final. The United States was eliminated in the group stage, but Morocco qualified for the final against Algeria.
Morocco's matchup with England at the 2018 World Cup will be an interesting one. The Atlas Lions have a strong team led by Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi. The lineup for this match has not been announced yet, but the Atlas Lions are coming off a 4-1 victory over DR Congo. England is a good bet to win this game as well, but it's too early to predict how the two teams will fare.
Morocco isn't a household name, but this friendly may prove to be a good opportunity to find out whether they have the same potential as England. Their roster of top players is stacked with international experience, so they may have an advantage in individual talent. Although their national team has struggled to gel as a unit, the quality of the players and the number of international appearances give them an advantage.