The FIFA World Cup 2022 has been a spectacle, with remarkable and unprecedented moments regularly occurring on matchdays.
Whether it was Japan topping a group of Spain and Germany, South Korea booking Uruguay’s plane ticket back home in the group stages or Croatia edging tournament-favorites Brazil on a penalty shootout, shocks have become the norm.
No shock is more fascinating and sustainable than the Atlas Lions, though. Ahead of this tournament, Morocco fans would’ve anticipated nothing more than a last-16 finish at best, with that seemingly a pipedream too.
Drawn into a group with Belgium’s “Golden Generation”, World Cup runners-up Croatia and a highly touted Canadian side, neutrals anticipated Morocco to struggle.
Especially with internal turmoil in the build-up to the tournament, Morocco’s robust performances at this World Cup have been nothing short of extraordinary.
Hence here on Main Stand with writer Agastya Bajaj, we dissect how Morocco have transformed disharmony into unrivaled unity, conduct a tactical analysis of how they have made the quarter-finals and explain why they are the best defensive side at the tournament.
A rollercoaster build-up
Entering this tournament, Moroccan headlines were dominated by unpalatable dressing room turmoil.
Although Morocco only conceded three goals en route to World Cup qualification, their style wasn’t the most compelling under Bosnian manager Vahid Halidolovic in charge.
In addition to arguably the country’s high-profile players, Hakim Ziyech and Nassour Mazourai, refusing to play for the manager, tensions between the fans and manager became untenable.
In an interview with Dutch international Andy van Der Myde, the Bayern full-back explained how the Bosnian manager’s temper was why he refused to play under his stewardship.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, players regularly drank water during national team training sessions. The Bayern full-back, however, didn’t find the need to drink water every few minutes, feeling hydrated, acclimated to the African conditions and giving his entire commitment.
However, despite this, during a drinks break, the Bosnian manager allegedly threw a water bottle at his face out of rage for not excessively drinking water. This incensed the fullback, prompting him not to play under this manager.
This wasn’t the only fallout within the Morocco camp. Chelsea player Hakim Ziyech, one of the most talented set-piece players, also fell out with the manager.
After the winger couldn’t compete in a friendly in 2020 for undisclosed reasons, the manager inexplicably lost trust in Ziyech’s commitment.
The player was then omitted from the next Morocco squad during a set of friendlies, with the manager publicly undermining and berating Ziyech's commitment.
This infuriated the Chelsea winger, who immediately retired from international football after this egregious encounter with his manager.
As such, the Bosnian Manager was sacked three months ahead of the tournament with high-profile players omitted from the squad, an unconvincing style of play and tensions between fans and manager reaching an untenable point.
In an excerpt from ESPN, Moroccan FA boss Fazoui Lekja revealed why Halidolovic was sacked three months before the World Cup.
"The players and the public did not understand the reason for excluding players who participated with the national team for six or seven years, depriving them of representing the national team for this round," said Lekja.
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"There was also a neglect in enhancing the players' association with their technical team and motivating them to give their best, which is any coach's primary purpose.
“The national team cannot exclude high-level Moroccan players who play in teams all over the world, whatever the reason -- that was how the fans and players felt.”
Regragui Revolution
Shortly after the Bosnian manager’s sacking, former Morrocan fullback Walid Regragui was appointed.
Regragui completely transformed Morroco’s fortunes on and off the pitch. In his first action in charge, he immediately convinced Morroco superstar Ziyech of retirement ahead of this tournament.
Ziyech was instantly swayed to rejoin the national team setup, with Regragui’s acumen, flexibility, experience, hands-on intent and style of play encouraging the Chelsea winger.
The appointment also saw Mazaraoui reinstated into the national team setup, with Morrocan fans rallying behind the appointment of the young and highly respected new manager.
Not only did Regragui reinvigorate stability within the Morroco camp, he reignited harmony between the FA and the fanbase.
More importantly, the 47-year-old Morrocan icon stamped his authority on the dressing room through his acumen and ambition. The manager is tactically quite thorough and proactive while also taking a key interest in sport science and is lauded for his man management.
Regragui has also amassed immense success throughout his short managerial career, hoisting up the Qatari League and Moroccan titles.
With harmony revitalized on and off the pitch, this gave him the impetus to smoothly implement his system on the squad.
The tactical analysis of these magical results
Despite short preparation heading into the tournament, Regragui’s formula has flourished incredibly well thus far and seemingly peaked during this tournament too.
Apart from an own goal in a 2-1 victory against Canada, the manager is yet to concede a goal from the opposition in his short tenure thus far.
His side has generated the least xG (expected goals) against them by some margin, allowing the fewest shots on goal in the entire tournament.
This is a byproduct of Morroco’s compactness and organization. Under Regragui, Morocco has been incredibly robust and flexible out of possession. The side regularly switches from a 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 without the ball, attempting to overload and win the ball back in midfield.
The side managed to begin their tournament with a robust 0-0 draw against Croatia, followed up with a defensive clinic against Belgium in a dominant 2-0 victory. After displaying their defensive robustness, the side secured a place in the knockouts and top of Group G accumulating seven points after beating Canada 2-1 on the final matchday.
Although they were already impressive in their group, Morocco’s style of play and defensive superiority was most effectively seen in their round of 16 victory against Spain.
Despite Spain having over 70% of the ball throughout the encounter, Regragui was happy to give the best side on the planet between both boxes the bulk of possession, intending to take Spain’s midfield out of the game.
"We were playing against Spain, Belgium and Croatia and we knew that, if we could cut out their passes, we would have opportunities," explained coach Regragui. "Playing at such a pace isn't easy so I take my hat off to them.”
The Morrocan side honed in on neutralizing Spanish holding midfielder Sergio Busquets ability to dictate the tempo and carry the ball.
Instead off relentlessly pressing and pinning the backline, Morocco shaped a diamond out of possession which isolated Busquets within the Morroco midfield.
With Busquets isolated between the number 9, two central midfielders, and occasionally holding midfielder, this mitigated Busquets availability and nullified him from the encounter.
Overloading Busquets in a diamond also allowed Morroco defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat to be the security line ahead of the backline.
When those select Morrocan players pinned and pressured Busquets out of the game, it occasionally gave space for other Spanish players to exploit, though.
This space, however, was impressively redundant, with Amrabat completely mitigating this through his relentless commitment and ability to read the game and win the ball back.
The dynamic compact shifting of each Morrocan off the ball also denotes how they have a clear concept of when to run at an opponent and shape themselves out of possession under Regragui’s management, with this being culpable for mitigating Pedri and Gavi out of the game.
Spain also struggled to break Morroco’s incredibly organized low block, with the African side tactically remarkable out of possession in the midfield and defensively robust to rely on.
With this numerical superiority in the midfield, when winning the ball back in the midfield, Morroco tried to relentlessly break up top through switches, which has been effective throughout the tournament.
After winning the ball back, the Morrocan midfield directly advances up the pitch alongside creative players Ziyech and Boufal through quick breaks.
The side have only scored four goals at the tournament thus far, however according to Bayern tactical analyst Marius Thomas, he stated “Morroco could have played such situations even better in-game to get dangerously in front of the opponent goal,” with Morroco’s compactness still generating opportunities going forward too.
The quarters and more
As such, Morocco have been fascinating watch at the tournament.
They have reunited the continent with Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez stating, “It is very good to see them playing well on the big stage,” while Crown Prince of Dubai Sheik Hambad Bin Mohamed also piled praise, “Congratulations to Morocco for this well deserve the victory and outstanding heroic performance,” with Morroco receiving plenty more support from Africa and the rest of the world.
Regragui has merited the immense plaudits received, especially being the only African manager ever to make the World Cup quarter-finals thus far.
Players such as Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou have also received a lot of plaudits with their value increasing across the planet.
With Morroco already producing a remarkable journey to the last eight, their defensive robustness and ability on the break make them a threat to virtually anyone they come up against.
Sources
https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/editorial/2022/12/08/morocco-has-propelled-arab-football-to-new-heights/
https://www.thenationalnews.com/fifa-world-cup-2022/2022/12/09/riyad-mahrez-really-proud-of-morocco-after-arab-nations-historic-world-cup-run/
https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/4825884/why-moroccos-run-to-world-cup-knockouts-is-no-fluke
https://totalfootballanalysis.com/match-analysis/fifa-world-cup-2022-morocco-vs-spain-tactical-analyisis-tactics
