PREVIEW: FIFA World Cup Round of 16 - Morocco vs Spain

FIFA 2022 World Cup

Last 16: Morocco vs Spain

06 December 2022

Education City stadium, Al Rayyan

KO- 17:00 (SA Time)

Match Preview:

Only three African nations have managed to reach the quarterfinals in the FIFA World Cup: Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), and Ghana (2010). Morocco are on the verge of making history and becoming the fourth African country, and the first from the Maghreb region to achieve this feat. After all, they are the only African team left in the competition. 

The Atlas Lions have had a great run so far, as one of only four teams to reach the round of 16 unbeaten. Defensively they have also been watertight. They conceded only one goal during the 3-1 win against Canada, and beat Belgium, ranked second in the world, 2-0, proving Walid Regragui’s squad can topple any team in this World Cup.

Spain are also not an exception. Impressive in their opening game, sweeping past Costa Rica with a 7-0 humiliating scoreline, before a thrilling one-all draw against a struggling Germany.

Luis Enrique’s mix of youth with experience has been inconsistent in its application defensively. This was evident when they lost to Japan in the final game. At some stage, they were nearly out of the tournament, but were rescued by Germany’s comeback 4-2 victory over Costa Rica.

With the two countries sharing a border in Melilla, a rare occurrence of an African nation dumping out a former world champion would be such a good sight under the leadership of Caf President Patrice Motsepe.

Team News:

Morroco

Paris St Germain defender Achraf Hakimi is believed to have sat out this past weekend’s training sessions, but the talk in Moroccan media is that it was only a precaution. Hakimi had been nursing an ankle problem and was one of several regulars who were not risked in Saturday’s training session.

In terms of ball possession, Spain dominated their opponents in this tournament as they usually do, but as Regragui says, it's what you do with the ball that is important.

“There are people who want the ball and others who don't, there are some who know what to do with it, others who don't know what to do with it. We hope tomorrow that Spain doesn't know what to do with the ball, that's kind of our plan,” he told reporters.

Spain

The two teams played to a hard-fought 2-all draw in the group stages in Russia 2018 and La Roja’s Enrique has noted how powerful this Moroccan team is pound for pound. It explains why the former FC Barcelona head coach has been constantly reminding his players about preparing for penalties.

"Over a year ago in many training camps I told my players 'you have homework ahead of the World Cup, you need to take at least 1,000 penalties with your club', we can't just work on it in our training camp in the national team.

“I'm sure that they've done their homework because in some knockouts we'll have to go into penalty shootouts. Obviously, you can't train the pressure and tension but you can cope with it", he said.

Enrique also emphasized that for the 2010 world champions it is not about winning at all costs, how they play is just as important.

"Our philosophy is the same. For me, this is a show and we need to try and entertain the fans so that they have fun watching us. We should not just go and get a victory, we need to entertain the spectators”, he claimed

Players to watch

Achraf Hakimi

Age: 24

Club: Paris St Germain (France)   

A product of the Real Madrid academy having been born in Madrid, this is a special game for Achraf Hakimi. He’ll be up against some players he grew up facing in lower structures up to the senior level. And most importantly, he’ll up against the country of his birth.

Handed his national team debut at 17 years, 11 months, and seven days by Herve Renard in 2015, Hakimi at 24, is already playing his second World Cup. The marauding right-back has played in top leagues: In the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan in the Serie A and now at PSG in France.

A player for big occasions indeed, with already an assist in three matches in this tournament.

Alvaro Morata

Age: 30

Club: Atletico Madrid (Spain)

With the attention most of the time focused on the engine of this team, looking at this World Cup it is easy to spot why Alvaro Morata has been the go-to man in the final third for La Roja.

Already with three goals scored in each of the three matches so far, Morata’s 30 goals in 60 matches for Spain is an impressive record for the Atletico Madrid marksman.

His experience in leading an attack of a youthful squad will be key in a game where physical strength is going to be tested by the energetic North Africans.

The former Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Juventus striker is technically gifted, with an intelligent football brain and his link-up play makes him a perfect modern forward.