FT Post World Cup 2018: The Day Morocco Bullied Portugal

A Few Weeks Before This Day

At the end of the 90 minutes, I was kicking myself trying to conceive how Morocco lost that Group B clash against the European champions, Portugal. In fact, I am still questioning myself hoping to get answers on the Lions of the Atlas’ ordeal. I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the match, cheering on, commentating and at times giving instructions through the television, as if they could actually hear me. That is just some hindsight into the level of passion I felt, which can be hardly described with words. At the end of the day, I was thoroughly entertained but walked away with a sinking feeling which has driven me to reflect in this piece.

Numbers Don’t Lie

Objectively, this is not just a “make Africa look good piece.” I am not a data junkie but let us look at the stats of the match for a second. Morocco had more of the ball with 55% possession, they also had five more shots than Portugal with a total of 15 shots with twice as many on target than their opposition. They had a superior passing accuracy of 76.4% compared to Portugal’s 71.7%, more passes in the attacking third, more key passes, more corners, more dribbles, more recoveries; essentially more of everything in attack. I am sure you are getting the picture now, Morocco actually bullied the 4th ranked team in the world. Hakeem Ziyech literally owned the midfield cutting inside from the left flank, Nordin Amrabat was unstoppable and the defense marshall, captain Mehdi Benatia adopted a second role - heading the ball goalwards at the wake of the countless opportunities, almost like a second striker.

The Significance

This was really huge to me as far as breaking stereotypes is concerned. African teams have been overtime described as “physical” which actually implies that they lack tactical awareness, organization, and are void of the ability to entertain. For the first time in my life, on the biggest stage of them all, I witnessed a European team pushed to the brink and made to defend in numbers, in other words, “park the bus”. Let me be clear, I do not see it in the view of the underappreciated rising to the occasion to prove haters wrong - shouting “I told you so,” but rather, in the light of football is a testament that no particular group of individuals has the inalienable right to mastery and dominance. Everyone can master and dominate, not just in sport but in everything. Allow me to echo the timeless declaration that all men are created equal with the hope that the more we roar it out, the more we move to actualize it.

Every Team Needs A Ronaldo

I am always reminded by my peers that in the end “football is about scoring goals.” Well, I actually concede to that fact but I cannot be robbed of the celebration of broken stereotypes. This gets me to the next point in moving past the “feel good dimension” to that of winning. Arguably the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo actually won that particular match and many others for his country. The recent addition to the Juventus squad delivered a lightning header in the 4th minute from a corner kick, which sealed the points for the European champions. As we celebrate the progression of African football in the context of the Moroccans, I suggest we also aspire not to just do enough but be the best. My hope and prayer are that the small boys and girls in the forgotten and well-known parts of the continent may grind as much as Ronaldo with the belief that they will seize even the smallest of opportunities, become the best players in the world and win battles for their nations.

Morocco finished the 2018 FIFA world cup campaign in Russia, bottom of Group B with a single point after having lost the opening match to Iran courtesy of an injury-time own goal, another loss to Portugal and drew 2-2 with the 2010 World Champions, Spain. The Moroccan matches were some of the most breathtaking matches of my 2018 World Cup experience.

Continue roaring, Lions of the Atlas! 

FT World Cup 2018: Tunisia's Tournament in Review

Like all African states, the Eagles of the Carthage came into the World Cup oozing with hope and pride for the African continent. Little did they know that they will be slapped with a loss from England, followed by a heavy blow of loss from Belgium. To redeem themselves, the Tunisians exited the tournament with inflicting the same kind of loss on Panama with a 2-1 win. Even though the departure was sooner than hoped for, the lessons learned were timely. Below is an overview of the learning curve.

Tunisia vs England

FirstTouch had predicted that this should be a game not to miss because of the certainty that the Eagles will bring their fight forward. They did live up to the expectation. They were flexible enough to change their strategy to a 5-3-1-1 during their second half of the game which tightened the bolts and made it hard for England to go past their defense line. The pressure on England was too much. Only Harry Kane stood in their way to victory when he scored twice for England and only allowing Tunisia to take one goal away. The 2-1 loss was not enough to discourage the North Africans as they went to devise more strategies to face Belgium in their next game.

Tunisia vs Belgium

This was the hardest and most dramatic match that the team faced throughout the tournament. Firstly, they had a new man (Farouk Ben Mustaph) at the goal post after their initial goalkeeper Mouez Hassen got injured in their first match against England. This level of flexibility is commendable. This did, of course, have negative implications for their game. Secondly, two of their players had to leave the game early due to injuries. It might have been these loopholes that allow Belgium to kick in the ball into the net 5 times. Lukaku scored two goals before the first half. Even after he left the game, the rest of the team carried the job to the very end of the 5-2 victory. This was the lowest point for the Eagles, but not all hope was lost because they still needed to face Panama.

Tunisia vs Panama

Tunisia proved that losing your former battles does not translate to absolute loss. You learn from them and come back stronger, as they gave Panama the same taste of what England gave them: 2-1 loss. In this game, Panama struck first in the 33rd minute with Jose Luis Rodriguez. This was after the Tunisian goalkeeper had not just one grip of the ball, but held it twice in the 18th minute to make sure that they did not lose this one. Tunisia was not held back by that first stab, as Fakhreddine Ben Youssef scored in the 50th minute. Just 16 minutes before the referee blew the whistle, Wahbi Khazri came in to redeem the team and ensured that the team leaves the tournament with some respect. The team is not just leaving empty handed but leaving with some lessons that will inform their next tournaments.

"For Tunisia's narrative, it's one of slight disappointment. We went into the tournament not expecting a miracle after having lost our best player Msakni. We knew our only chance was to get a result against England. We fought hard and were just 90 seconds away from making the country proud. That loss demoralized us and we went into the Belgium game physically and mentally weakened. We couldn't capitalize on our chances, and we were left fighting for our honor against Panama. We were able to salvage what could've been yet another winless World Cup (Tunisia holds the record of most winless games in a row with 11 or 12). The win against Panama was our first in 40 years!" - From Tunisian Fan Perspective, Amine

Lessons Learned

• Being flexible enough to change your strategy in the middle of the game is important.

• The ability to play in different roles is a definite treasure for teams.

• Learning from your mistakes as a team is the whole point of the game.

• The ability to persevere through a match can enable a team to turn its losses to amazing wins.

Evaluation

Not all good plays result in a win. Tunisia played well in the team, especially when it came to the strength of its defensive line. The only issue is that they conceded too many goals, but as their coach Nabil Maaloul says, it was only when they “met with very tough opponents”. The coach went on to say that they came into the group hoping that they could at least be third in the group, and yes, their hopes were fulfilled.

Critical Issue

They need to train more of their goalkeepers to avoid the concession to so many goals. The ability to shoot right at the net would also be necessary for them to be at their best at the Africa Cup of Nations.

FT World Cup 2018: Morocco's Tournament in Review

Lacked a cutting edge, but a lot of positives to pick up from one of the toughest groups

If we are to be realistic, not much was expected of Morocco after being seeded in Group B with European giants Portugal, Spain as well as Iran. Of course, we were behind them as they raised the flag of Africa sky high and hoped that they would have enough to cause an upset in the group and prove that matches are not won on paper. Here’s a recap of their performance in the tournament.

Morocco vs Iran (June 15)

FirstTouch Africa previewed the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia competition ahead of time and we anticipated that they would bring their exciting passing game to Iran and dazzle the fans. They never came short of that expectation. For the longest parts of the match, Morocco was the dominant team. Benatia was rock solid at the back as usual, and Amrabat was a threat on the byline. What was lacking for the Lions of the Atlas (أسود الأطلس‎) was that Didier Drogba type of forward who could bury all the chances home especially the ones they created in the first 20 minutes. They played like their lives depended on it, and it was no surprise that Iran had only 32% possession to show for their lucky victory against the African team. Morocco unfortunately lost by virtually the last kick of the match through an own goal by Aziz Bouhaddouz on the 95th minute. That performance was promising, and expectations started building up towards the match against the European Champions, Portugal.

Portugal vs Morocco (June 20)

Morocco needed a response but they could only do so much in a match against a defensively resolute Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo scored early for Portugal through a fierce header on the 4th minute, and it was enough to confirm Morocco’s early exit from the biggest individual sporting event in the world as they failed to find the back of the net for the second consecutive match. That one goal kept the fans on the edge of their seats throughout the match with Morocco giving all the effort they could in a do-or-die match. The Portuguese full-back, Rafael Guerrero had the longest 90 minutes of his career facing Amrabat and Dirar who bombed upfield whenever they had the opportunity. Again, no one was on the receiving end of the dangerous balls from the flanks and Morocco had no one to blame but themselves for not finishing past Rui Patricio. With two defeats, Morocco was out of the tournament days into the competition.

Spain vs Morocco (June 25)

It was a match of pride really. Irzem and Atlasi were out to prove that they were not a pushover and issue a strong closing statement as they bowed out of the tournament. Morocco learned from their mistakes as forward Khalid Boutaib scored their first goal in the tournament on the 14th minute to stun Spain. The Spaniards responded through Isco a few minutes later, and it was all-square when the teams went in for a break. The VAR evidently determined the fate of the teams in Group B, and it is quite surprising that some incidents went unpunished like Gerard Pique’s double-foot challenge. Nonetheless, Morocco again found the lead for the second time in the match through substitute En Nesyri on the 81st minute. An African team was on the verge of breaking the Spaniard’s 22-game unbeaten run. Fellow substitute Iago Aspas also scored on the other end to make sure that Spain shares the spoils with أسود الأطلس‎ in their last match of the tournament. It was a proud moment when the referee ended the match as Morocco proved to the world that they could play against the top 2 teams in Europe and give them a run for their money.

Lessons Learned

1. Morocco’s style of play causes problems for any team they face.

2. There is room for improvement in terms of finishing.

3. VAR is not always fair.

4. Achraf Hakimi is one for the future.

5. Coach Herve Renard’s tactics were spot on.

Evaluation

Morocco was fairly good in the tournament. They had a lot of players who play in the most competitive leagues in the world, and it was beautiful to watch them in sync as they played a possession football that even Arsene Wenger would be proud of. The players played out of passion and love for the game and nothing else. If Morocco were named in any other group, they probably would have made it to the next round because Group B had brutal fixtures.

Critical Issue

They need to find sharp-shooters who are ruthless in front of goal and take the 2019 African Cup of Nations by storm.

FT World Cup 2018: Morocco issues a powerful closing statement against Spain

Morocco’s elimination was guaranteed after failing to score in their opening two matches, narrowly losing 1-0 to both Iran and Portugal even though they dominated the opposition on both occasions. However, the beautiful football they play paid off against their neighbors, Spain, the acclaimed “masters of the beautiful football.” More than just the football was on display, as the referee’s decisions and VAR took center-stage.

The Lions of the Atlas opened the scoring in the 14th minute when El-Boutaib capitalized on a Sergio Ramos mistake, raced goalwards and finished it off nicely by slotting the ball between David De Gea’s legs. Five minutes later, La Roja replied. Isco leveled matters after being gifted a scoring opportunity by the dancing Iniesta who dribbled past two defenders and delivered him the assist. From this point onwards, everything seemed to have been going against the North Africans. Morocco received an astounding four yellow cards within the first half after a host of challenges and outbursts of frustration as a result of the perceived partiality of the referee. If you ask me, there may be two or three occasions where the referee made some controversial calls.

After the halftime break, Spain continued to search for an elusive win that would guarantee their qualification but homebound Morocco had other plans. They were determined to cause an upset and leave a mark on the tournament after fighting so hard in a group earmarked the “Group of Death.” Substitute Youssef En-Nesyri restored Morocco’s lead in the 81st minute with a bullet header that David De Gea could only watch fly past him into the net. The climax of the eventful night, however, came in injury time, when Iago Aspas scored a goal that was initially ruled offside before a VAR review awarded the goal making the final score, 2-2.

Spain and Portugal, who survived a late scare from Iran in their 1-1 draw against the Asians, march on from Group A into the knockout stages.

FT World Cup 2018: Morocco could not find a solution against Portugal

The World Cup hunt is as good as finished for the Lions of the Atlas. Morocco was knocked out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia on Wednesday after falling short against the European champions’ who showed experience and resolve. Portugal only needed an early single goal to bag all three of the points on offer in this Group B clash.

The odds were always against the North Africans heading into this tournament who were drawn into Group B against the global football powerhouses in the form of Spain and Portugal, and also sharing a group with the Asian masters, Iran. This group earmarked the “group of death” by most analysts has provided some of the most entertaining games of the tournament. Most fans would have expected Morocco to have a stronger showing in terms of results than they have had thus far, especially after having an impressive qualifying campaign where they conceded zero goals and had the support of an experienced coach in Herve Renard. They may not have quite met expectations but maybe it is more attributed to having failed to find the back of the net in their first two fixtures. They dominated the match against Iran, creating a couple of chances but unfortunately gifted all three points to the opposition after conceding an own goal in the 90th minute. Against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, the Real Madrid forward proved the difference early on. Ronaldo pounced on Joao Moutinho’s cross in the 4th minute and drove the ball into the net with a fierce header. Starting the match on the backfoot, the Moroccans had to dig really deep to save their World Cup dream and they left it all on the pitch. Hakim Ziyech was pulling strings in the midfield and Nordin Amrabat gave the Portuguese defense all sorts of problems with his pace, trickery and superhuman strength. Portugal seemed to be the underdogs throughout the entire match, sitting deep and letting Morocco play the beautiful game with a fluid and attractive style we all love.

One positive to take back to Rabat would be the fact that they have shown that an African team can outplay the best. Investment in scouting more clinical finishers for the Lions of the Atlas should be a priority in their continued efforts in building a formidable Moroccan side. It is not really all over yet, with their final match coming against Spain on the 25th June, they can still have a say on who progresses from the group with Portugal, Spain, and Iran sitting on four, four, and three points respectively. A shock-win over the 2010 World Cup Champions, Spain would not be such a bad farewell gift for Moroccan fans.

FT World Cup 2018: Africa Has Arrived - Morocco

In the history of the FIFA World Cup, no African team has ever reached the semi-finals. Ghana was agonizingly close in South Africa 2010 but crashed out after Luis Suarez’s heroics in goal, in place for a goalkeeper who was still in the game. Senegal’s Lions of Teranga had a great run in the 2002 finals before losing to Turkey, 1-0 after extra time. Can this year be a historical one for Africa?

Let us briefly explore the possibility of Morocco delivering the goods for the continent. The Lions of Atlas had an impressive FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign where they finished top of the group occupied by Ivory Coast who hadn’t missed a world cup tournament since 2006, Mali and Gabon. Most remarkably, they scored a total of 11 goals and conceded zero. Not a lot has actually been said about their incredible stats and performances, probably because Nigeria has stolen attention in the headlines with their Nike jerseys and apparel. It is also true that assessing their chances is not a very pleasant exercise as it is really like handing a B to a great and hardworking student just because only 2 As are up for grabs in Group A and ostensibly they belong to two other extremely talented students who do not need to work too hard. It just doesn’t seem right. Furthermore, this football-loving nation has recently missed out on the opportunity to host the 2026 world cup, losing out to the United bid of Canada, Mexico, and the USA, it may not be fair to rub all their non-victories in their face.

Morocco begins their World Cup campaign against Asian surprise package, Iran on the 15th of June before tackling revered Spain and lastly, the European Champions, Portugal. If they are to book a place in the round-of-16, the Atlas Lions will have to get one over Iran and grind some sort of result against either Spain, Portugal or both. The likelihood of that actually happening is really next to impossible because of the two aforementioned more talented students in Spain and Portugal who are also vying for the two available spots. But with some instability that has recently struck the Spanish camp after the surprise sacking of their manager and also the wisdom of arguably the best coach in Africa, Herve Renard at work in the Moroccan camp, who knows what could happen.

I am actually optimistic that the Atlas Lions will pull off at least one major upset. However, here are my predictions for the final group B standings:

Portugal (1st); Spain (2nd); Morocco (3rd); Iran (4th)

What are your predictions? Let us know in the comment box below.