Morocco November World Cup Qualifiers Preview 🇲🇦🦁

After already confirming their qualification into next year's World Cup Play-Offs with two games to spare, the pressure is off Morocco ahead of matches with Sudan and Guinea. However, coach Vahid Halilhodzic will hope that another international break with a mostly unchanged squad presents another opportunity for further improvement ahead of the AFCON in January and those huge Play-Off games in March.

Maintaining the team spirit

Since taking the job in August 2019, Halilhodzic has continued to split opinion when it comes to his squad selection processes, none more so than after his decision to leave out star names Hakim ZIyech and Noussair Mazraoui due to reported attitude problems with the pair while they were with the national team. As frustrating as it is to miss out on utilising their undoubted quality on the pitch, if Vahid believes that the group is better off without their presence then this should be respected. And while performances continue to improve and results follow, he can't really be argued with.

It is also reassuring to see a very similar squad again, which has been welcome change from the continuous new faces and chopping and changing of past selections. Youssef En-Nesyri will miss out once again through injury, but other than that there are no glaring omissions made by the coach this time around. This will only be good for not only building a good team spirit in the camp but also building good relationships on the pitch as the players improve their understanding of playing with the same personnel.

Ryan Mmaee needs a goal

One of the big positives from the last international break was the performances of newly-formed strike partners Ayoub El Kaabi and Ryan Mmaee. In the absence of En Nesyri, they showed great link-up play and understanding between one another, with El Kaabi the one to really shine with four goals in the three matches.

Mmaee did everything but score and is still yet to open his account for the Atlas Lions despite some big opportunities. For his confidence, he really needs that first goal to set him on his way and prove that he should continue to be starting over someone like En-Nesryi, who has struggled for Morocco of late and is in no way assured of his starting spot when he returns from injury.

Solid Foundations

It looks like Vahid has now decided on his first choice back four, with Achraf Hakimi being deployed at right back after a spell of being used further forward at right wing. Captain Romain Saiss has now found a permanent partner is Nayef Aguerd and left back Adam Masina has yet to concede a goal while on the pitch for Morocco. Ever since Halilhodzic was appointed, the defence has not been a problem, despite regular changes in centre back pairing for most of his tenure.

During the last international break, the same back four played in the first two matches and was only changed in the win over Guinea because of a shift to a back five. Along with Bounou in goal, the back four looks to be the one that will remain largely unchanged unless for a change of system.

Midfield Balance

One of the biggest problems facing Vahid since his arrival was the need for a new midfield after the irreplaceable losses of Karim El Ahmadi and Mbark Boussoufa. He has tinkered with many different combinations since then but none of them had the right balance. But with the introduction of Imran Louza and Ilias Chair, he may have found that balance.

One player he has always relied on is Sofyan Amrabat, who sits at the base of the midfield to progress the ball and dictate play. To the right of him was another trusted player in Aymen Barkok, who despite a lack of game time with Eintracht Frankfurt for a while will always be in the starting lineup for Morocco. Although he can be very frustrating on the ball with his decision making, it is his work off the ball in pressing and in turnovers which is why he is never left out.

And then the new addition of Imran Louza, who has also struggled for game time at new side Watford this season but started all three games last month and performed very well. His link-up play with Ilias Chair and quality of delivery from set-pieces was especially pleasing. And finally Chair, who flourished in the attacking midfield role by driving at players, creating chances and scoring goals from range. Overall, this midfield has a little bit of everything and could be one that the manager continues to use in the upcoming matches.