Spain faces Morocco on Tuesday (12:00) in search of a pass to the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup, in a match with a taste of revenge for the Africans, who seek to make history in Qatar.
In the last World Cup Russia-2018, Morocco saw how La Roja tied it in injury time (2-2) in the last match of the group stage – to which the Moroccans arrived already eliminated – to move on to the next phase of the tournament.
Four years later, the two teams meet again in Qatar, where the then young Bond, Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech either Youssef En-Nesyri they are now mainstays of the ‘Lions of the Atlas’.
Players like the captain also survive in La Roja from that match Sergio Busquets, César Azpilicueta either Jordi Alba.
“We have a new generation, it is a new mentality, it is not the same team of 2018 and it is not the Spain of 2018 either,” said the Moroccan coach on Monday. Walid Regraguiassuring that “it will be a match between two high level teams“.
Spain faces the match still with the scare in the body after the defeat against Japan 2-1 in the final day of group E, which for a few minutes left it out of the competition.
– “Focused on Morocco” –
“By the time the game was over, you had the feeling that you couldn’t win or tie the game and in that game you depended on Germany scoring more goals (against Costa Rica 4-2), luckily that happened, but already focused on the game in Morocco and try to go to the quarterfinals“, the midfielder told AFP. Carlos Soler.
“I am very happy with what I see in training and convinced that we have a great opportunity to get a good result and go through to the next round,” said the Spanish coach on Monday. Luis Enrique.
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Spain predicts a Morocco that waits behind, supported by its good defensive performance so far, to try to surprise in speed.
Against Morocco, Luis Enrique should once again trust his midfield, commanded by captain Sergio Busquets, accompanied by the youngsters Gavi Y Pedrowho fears being targeted by rivals again.
In front, alvaro moratascorer in the three matches that La Roja has been in the World Cup in Qatar, should once again lead the lead.
Morata will have the mission of perforating the goal defended by Bono, who in three games has only picked up the ball from the back of his goal on one occasion.
– “Enter history” –
The Moroccan team arrives at the match after going to the round of 16 as leader of group Fwhere they drew with Croatia and beat Belgium 2-0, who ended up eliminated.
“We can go down in history and be the first to reach the quarterfinals.“Regragui said.
Know more: “We are not just a team, we are a family,” says Hakimi
Morocco had only reached the round of 16 in Mexico-1986, when they lost 1-0 to West Germany thanks to an 88th-minute goal from Lothar Matthaus.
Now they have a chance to surpass their record if they can beat Spain on Tuesday at Doha’s Education City Stadium.
Solid in defense, the ‘Atlas Lions’ will try to surprise a Red with speed, which always finds difficulties with teams closed behind.
“They will have possession and we have to accept it, but we have our weapons,” said the Moroccan coach, for whom “if we manage to eliminate Spain It will be a nice surprise for us and for our country.“.
