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Who are Morocco's players to look out for against Scotland?
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BBC Sport·1 day ago

Who are Morocco's players to look out for against Scotland?

By Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport journalist Published 19 minutes ago Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Morocco reached the World Cup semi-finals four years ago

Image caption, Morocco reached the World Cup semi-finals four years ago

Scotland face the side ranked sixth in the world in their second World Cup group game, having beaten Haiti in their opening match.

Morocco, though, are likely to provide a far sterner challenge having reached the semi-finals in Qatar four years ago, while they drew with Brazil in their opening match.

BBC Sport takes a look at some key players Scotland may need to watch out for.

Image caption, Yassine Bounou was one of the stars of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Yassine Bounou was one of the stars of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Club: Al-Hilal Age: 35 Position: Goalkeeper Caps: 90 Clean sheets: 53

Known as 'Bono', Morocco's number one played a key role at the World Cup four years ago, saving two penalties in the last-16 shootout win against Spain on the way to a first appearance in the semi-finals.

He was awarded the Order of the Throne by King Mohammed VI for his heroics in Qatar.

A two-time Europa League winner with Sevilla, the former Girona and Zaragoza keeper joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia in 2023-24.

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Published 8 June Brahim Diaz Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Brahim Diaz initially represented Spain at junior level

Image caption, Brahim Diaz initially represented Spain at junior level

Club: Real Madrid Age: 26 Position: Attacking midfield Caps : 26 Goals: 14

The 26-year-old made headlines around the world when he missed a casually-taken 'Panenka' penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal in January - although he had scored five goals in the first five games of the continental tournament.

Diaz joined Manchester City as a 16-year-old in 2015 and made 16 appearances - earning a Premier League winner's medal in 2017-18 - before joining Real Madrid seven years ago. The £21m fee paid by Real was a record fee for a City academy graduate at that time.

A Serie A winner on loan at AC Milan in 2021-22, Diaz developed his ability to receive the ball in tight spaces by playing futsal from the age of four.

Image caption, Noussair Mazraoui joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich in 2024

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Noussair Mazraoui joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich in 2024

Club: Manchester United Age : 28 Position: Defence Caps: 45 Goals: 2

The Manchester United full-back has played in six different positions for club and country over the past two years, including an attacking midfield role, although he is most likely to start at left-back for the Teranga Lions.

Mazraoui was a key member of the Morocco side that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.

After he was substituted in the last-four defeat to France, it emerged he had been suffering from inflamed heart tissue after contracting Covid-19 during the tournament.

Image caption, Sofyan Amrabat was a key part of Morocco's run to the World Cup semi-finals four years ago

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Sofyan Amrabat was a key part of Morocco's run to the World Cup semi-finals four years ago

Club: Real Betis (on loan from Fenerbahce) Age: 29 Position: Defensive midfield Caps: 75 Goals: 0

The industrious midfielder played every minute of Morocco's journey to the semi-finals four years ago, running more than 50 miles during the tournament - the most of any player.

Amrabat, who started six of eight qualifying matches, grew up emulating the likes of World Cup winners Zinedine Zidane and Andres Iniesta before studying more defensive players like former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

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Sources: BBC Sport

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