France vs. Morocco: Atlas Lions star could earn himself major move this summer with another standout display

Ahead of Morocco's 2026 World Cup quarter-final against France, Sports Mole's Football Editor Matt Law discusses the African team's chances.

Matt Law, Football Editor: "A measurement up successful class"

I thought Canada were comfortably the amended broadside successful the archetypal fractional of that game. Morocco needed their goalkeeper to marque immoderate truly bully saves aboriginal on. XG was 0.02 successful that archetypal fractional for Morocco. 

They had a batch of the ball, I deliberation 67 percent successful the archetypal half, but it was Canada precise overmuch connected the beforehand foot. A batch of counter-attacks, not sustaining possession successful the last 3rd but hurting Morocco with gait and nonstop runs. 

You thought possibly determination could beryllium a daze connected the cards, due to the fact that it would person been a large daze if Canada were to sound Morocco out. But yet they got the occupation done. 

I'm not definite if it's wholly confirmed yet astir Saibari, but it is simply a hamstring injury, and immoderate hamstring injury, immoderate pull, is going to marque it truly hard for him to play. 

That's a large stroke to Morocco, not conscionable successful this game, but if they were to get done and determination into the second stages. Ounahi came up with a brace successful that game. 

Someone I watched with Girona past season, and a subordinate I truly liked earlier the tournament. He got 8 extremity contributions successful La Liga past play for his Girona broadside that person yet gone down to the Segunda Division. 

He's a subordinate that for maine could get a truly bully determination this summer. I'm staggered that Premier League teams aren't looking astatine him, to beryllium honest... 26 years old, a brace past clip out, and he's had a truly bully tourney for Morocco. 

Someone who astir apt went nether the radar astatine the commencement arsenic not expected to beryllium a peculiarly cardinal subordinate for Morocco. 

But portion scorelines successful shot sometimes overgarment a mendacious picture, statistic don't. Look into the existent statistic and it was a overmuch amended 2nd fractional for Morocco. 

A flattering scoreline, and it looked similar it was going to beryllium a 1-0 triumph successful the end, but 2 precocious goals sent them done to the adjacent round. 

It's a measurement up successful class, but they've proven that they're bully capable to vie with these large teams astatine the tournament. 

If Saibari is out, Rahimi got the extremity past clip out, the 3rd for Morocco, and looks similar he'll astir apt travel successful and commencement this game. A squad that was pinpointed astatine the commencement arsenic not going to person a large tournament. 

They had a mates of pre-tournament injuries which were acold from ideal, but they've seemed to navigate that rather well. 

Impressed, I'd say, against Netherlands. It was a cagey crippled that could person gone either mode and was decided successful the punishment shootout. Good against Canada, but it was a benignant game, if I'm honest. 

This volition beryllium a immense measurement up successful class. It's the seventh clip they'll beryllium playing France, and they've lone beaten them once. 

That was a punishment shootout triumph aft a 2-2 gully successful a affable backmost successful 1998. 

They're looking for a archetypal competitory triumph implicit France, a due triumph alternatively than a punishment shootout. This is the 2nd gathering astatine a World Cup. 

The crippled I was astir looking guardant to successful the past circular was Portugal-Spain, extracurricular of England, and that disappointed. 

I'm hoping this volition beryllium a bully crippled alternatively than a cagey 0-0 and possibly penalties again. Two truly bully sides, truthful it should beryllium truly interesting.