{"id":3062,"date":"2026-06-19T06:38:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T06:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=3062"},"modified":"2026-06-19T06:38:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T06:38:48","slug":"morocco-has-a-plan-to-play-the-final-but-first-has-to-overcome-scotlands-physicality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=3062","title":{"rendered":"Morocco has a plan \u2018to play the final,\u2019 but first has to overcome Scotland\u2019s physicality"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FOXBOROUGH \u2014 Expectations are high for Morocco, after reaching the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. And midfielder Azzedine Ounahi is not arguing. Asked if playing to a 1-1 tie with Brazil in the Group C opener in East Rutherford, N.J., made him think about the championship match, scheduled in the same stadium on July 19, Ounahi replied: \u201cWe\u2019re going to come back to play the final.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Letting Patrice Bergeron know his No. 37 is being retired was a team effort by the Bruins<\/a><\/p>\n

Ounahi\u2019s prediction drew applause from Moroccan media members during a press conference Thursday. So much for not worrying about bulletin board material.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe know this World Cup will be longer than [2022], and we didn\u2019t just come to the US to play against Brazil,\u201d Ounahi said. \u201cWe came in to go further than we did in 2022. Every match counts and we have to come into every match with the same spirit, and we will.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOur mentality has changed. We\u2019re aiming to go to the furthest point possible. [Four years ago] is history now, and we\u2019re aspiring to new horizons. We have a new generation, a lot of talent, a very complete squad. We have what we need to go even further.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Related: <\/span><\/span>World Cup expansion may dilute the tournament, but it gives small nations a moment in the spotlight<\/div>\n

But, first, Morocco must meet Scotland in a Group C match Friday night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven tougher than Brazil,\u201d Ounahi said. \u201cMore physical. They play different football than Brazil \u2014 long balls, physical, not afraid of getting rough. [Friday] is the most important match of the group, and we need to win, so the third match will be a little easier on us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Related: <\/span><\/span> United States vs. Australia preview<\/div>\n

Scotland coach Steve Clarke isn\u2019t disputing the Atlas Lions\u2019 aspirations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey reached the last four last World Cup, and I\u2019ve got the feeling this Morocco team is slightly better than that,\u201d Clarke said. \u201cThat gives you an idea of the task ahead. They are every bit as good, if not better. Their aspirations are the last four again, so it\u2019s a big challenge. They have power, pace, can beat you 1v1s. For me, Morocco is the real deal, and we have to be at our very best.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Atlas Lions, who won last year\u2019s Arab Cup and Africa Cup of Nations (on forfeit, after losing to Senegal in extra time), count on a defense led by outside backs Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui, backed by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Up front, the main threats are Real Madrid\u2019s Brahim D\u00edaz and Bayern Munich-bound Ismael Saibari.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019re all dangerous,\u201d Scotland captain Andy Robertson said. \u201cThere\u2019s quality all over the pitch, and it\u2019s hard to focus on one, another will pop up. There\u2019s so much quality, picking out one or two players. As a team they are hard to play against, really difficult. But we also believe in the quality we\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Israeli military says it struck southern Lebanon in intense fighting as US-Iran talks postponed<\/a><\/p>\n

Scotland opened with a 1-0 win over Haiti, but Clarke is taking a Braveheart approach to this match.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes the Scottish psyche, or Scottish mentality, we\u2019re a little bit more comfortable when we\u2019re underdogs,\u201d Clarke said. \u201cWe were favorites against Haiti, and we found the game a struggle, but we managed to win. This time, we\u2019re underdogs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Related: <\/span><\/span>United States forward Christian Pulisic trains separately for fourth straight day, could miss game against Australia<\/div>\n

The Scots\u2019 goals are modest, compared to Morocco\u2019s \u2014 they haven\u2019t won more than once in a World Cup, never advancing out of group play. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to be the first team to do it for our country,\u201d Robertson said. \u201cBut we\u2019re playing against one of the best teams in the world. If we can put in our best performance, I believe we can get what we want and, hopefully, make history.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Clarke is optimistic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTraining was electric,\u201d Clarke said of practice at the Revolution Training Center Thursday. \u201cBut, as a coach, as an experienced coach, you can read too much out of a training session. I\u2019ve seen, I\u2019ve watched them train the day before the game, and think, oh no, you think they\u2019re miles off, and then they turn up the pitch and they\u2019re fantastic. Other times, they can be great in training and forget to turn up in the games. I don\u2019t read too much into that, but I\u2019m pretty sure the boys are ready.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi is keeping the situation in perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTechnical, but also very physical,\u201d Ouahbi said of Scotland. \u201cVery physical, but totally different style with Scotland. They work faster with the ball, stronger with the ball. We have a plan to play, and see what happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to be better than what we did against Brazil. We want to grow with the competition. It\u2019s the World Cup, every game is difficult. We need to remain focused. You don\u2019t have small teams any more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Vance\u2019s push to get Iran talks started hits an early bump as weekend negotiations are put on hold<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Atlas Lions reached the semifinals in Qatar and have their eyes on returning to New York, where they drew Brazil in their Group C opener and the site of the July 19 final.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\nMorocco has a plan \u2018to play the final,\u2019 but first has to overcome Scotland\u2019s physicality - Boston Relocation Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=3062\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Morocco has a plan \u2018to play the final,\u2019 but first has to overcome Scotland\u2019s physicality - 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