It could easily have been a quarter-final. It would not have looked out of place in the Round of 16, either. Instead, the meeting between on Monday 29 June in Monterrey arrives as a mouth-watering contest in the Round of 32 at the
The highlights the scale of the occasion, with the Atlas Lions in 6th place and the Oranje in 7th. No other tie in this first round of the knockout stage pits two teams from the world's top 10 against each other.
“It's a World Cup Round of 32 match between two teams ranked in the world's top ten. It won't simply come down to technique, physical fitness or mental strength. Everything will matter. We'll have to deliver in every area of the pitch,” coach Mohamed Ouahbi, said ahead of the big match.
Aside from possibly reaching the Round of 16, Ouahbi’s side may well be poised to prove themselves to their supporters and observers around the world, who have followed closely the Atlas Lions’ fortunes since 10 December 2022. On that unforgettable day, Morocco saw off Portugal to become the first African team to reach a FIFA World Cup™ semi-final.
Every indication since then points to the fact that this remarkable achievement was not a fluke, but the start of a new era. Therefore, a successful showing against the Netherlands would establish Morocco as one of the major powers in world football.
“It will be a huge match against a top-class team, packed with world-class players,” said experienced goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. “Morocco are also a very strong side, though, with some real quality players. We're ready to rise to the challenge.”
Ouahbi agreed with his goalkeeper’s assessment, adding: “It will be a huge game. We've already produced one of this World Cup's most entertaining matches . I think we'll get another one tomorrow.”
Their opening match against the Seleção at showed how far the Moroccans have come. They demonstrated their ability to switch between periods of dominance, low defensive blocks and quick counterattacks, causing real problems for the most successful team in the competition's history.
However, the Atlas Lions could count on a safety net on that day, something they won't find on the pitch this Monday.
“It's a different team, with a different style, so we need to find alternative solutions,” explained Ouahbi. “It's a knockout match, so the stakes are much higher. We plan on sticking to what we're good at, even if we have to adapt our game based on the challenges the Netherlands might throw at us.”
The task ahead appears somewhat daunting. Ronald Koeman's side, like France and Germany, have been the most prolific of the tournament having netted 10 goals. Four years ago, however, Portugal were also in fine form going into their quarter-final against Morocco at Qatar 2022, just a few days after thrashing Switzerland 6-1. Despite this, the Atlas Lions emerged victorious with a clean sheet.
One question remains, however: who are the favourites? The Netherlands' pedigree and attacking prowess inevitably prompts odds to be tipped slightly in favour of the three-time finalists in the competition. Ouahbi, however, has little interest in such labels.
“Being the favourite or not makes no difference to me at all. That's up to the people to decide. The only thing that matters is what happens on the pitch. Morocco has gained worldwide respect after many years of hard work. We also respect the Netherlands, who are a great footballing nation.”
Whatever happens in Monterrey, Morocco's progress is already beyond dispute. Win, and the Atlas Lions would add another emphatic chapter to their rise, and then nothing can stand in the way of their dreams.
Sources: FIFA Official
