France vs. Morocco: Why this is not the same Atlas Lions Les Bleus beat in Qatar four years ago

Four years ago, Theo Hernandez's fifth-minute onslaught acceptable the code for a 2-0 France triumph that ended Morocco's fairytale tally astatine the semi-final signifier successful Qatar.

On Thursday, the aforesaid 2 sides conscionable again successful the World Cup quarter-finals, but Les Bleus would beryllium mistaken to dainty this arsenic a rematch successful thing but name. 

The existent Morocco broadside is simply a materially antithetic squad to the 1 Didier Deschamps' France dispatched successful 2022, arsenic they present person a antithetic personnel, a antithetic system, and a antithetic level of attacking ambition.

Ahead of this quarterfinal tie, Sports Mole looks astatine what has changed successful the Moroccan broadside betwixt the 2022 and 2026 World Cup.

A caller dependable connected the touchline

Perhaps the biggest quality betwixt Morocco's 2022 broadside and the 1 France volition look connected Thursday is successful the dugout.

Walid Regragui volition everlastingly beryllium remembered for starring the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals successful Qatar, becoming the archetypal African manager to instrumentality an African federation that acold astatine a World Cup, but his reign came to an extremity successful March pursuing the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

His successor, Mohamed Ouahbi, arrived with an outstanding estimation aft guiding Morocco to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup rubric successful 2025, and portion the 49-year-old inherited overmuch of Regragui's antiaircraft foundation, helium has encouraged a much adventurous benignant without sacrificing the organisation that made Morocco truthful hard to bushed 4 years ago. 

Unbeaten done his archetypal 10 matches heading to this quarter-finals, Ouahbi has rapidly shown that this is simply a squad consenting to dictate games alternatively than simply incorporate opponents.

New faces person reshaped Morocco's team

The improvement is reflected successful the squad itself, with the biggest 1 being Brahim Diaz's determination to correspond Morocco, which has fixed Ouahbi a originative outlet that simply was not disposable successful Qatar.

The Real Madrid playmaker has go the archetypal African subordinate to registry 4 assists astatine a azygous World Cup aft mounting up different extremity successful the circular of 16 triumph implicit Canada.

Ismael Saibari, who made his debut successful 2023, has besides go 1 of Morocco's astir influential attackers astatine this World Cup, rewarding his manager with goals against Brazil, Scotland and Haiti, successful what has been an awesome tourney for him truthful far.

Elsewhere, teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has emerged arsenic 1 of Morocco's brightest caller talents, with the Lille youngster seamlessly stepping into the elder setup aft starring astatine younker level, portion Fulham defender Issa Diop has added further spot and acquisition astatine the bosom of the defence. 

Perhaps the clearest denotation of Morocco's evolution, though, is that respective of the heroes from Qatar person made way, with Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal absent from this squad altogether, underlining conscionable however overmuch Morocco's options person evolved implicit the past 4 years.

A bolder tactical identity

Regragui's Morocco were admired for their discipline, compact antiaircraft signifier and devastating counter-attacks, but Ouahbi has added different dimension.

The Atlas Lions present property higher, perpetrate much bodies guardant and let Diaz the state to drift betwixt the lines, portion the full-backs supply acold greater attacking width than they did successful Qatar – yet that other ambition has not travel astatine the disbursal of antiaircraft solidity.

Morocco person inactive conceded lone 4 goals successful 5 matches astatine this World Cup, but they person looked considerably much threatening successful the last third, scoring 10 times, including 3 against Canada successful the Round of 16, portion besides creating capable chances against apical teams similar Brazil and Netherlands.

The numbers constituent towards a broadside susceptible of controlling matches with the shot alternatively than waiting patiently for modulation opportunities.

Experience has go belief

Although Morocco person evolved, overmuch of the spine that carried them to the 2022 semi-finals remains intact.

Captain Achraf Hakimi, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and Sofyan Amrabat proceed to supply leadership, but they present bash truthful with the assurance that comes from having already breached caller crushed connected the biggest stage.

Hakimi has developed into 1 of the world's finest right-backs during his clip astatine Paris Saint-Germain, portion Bounou continues to beryllium decisive, laying a morganatic assertion astatine being 1 of the champion African goalkeepers successful history.

That experience, combined with the emergence of a caller procreation led by Diaz and Saibari, has transformed Morocco from 1 of the tournament's astonishment packages into a broadside that genuinely expects to vie with the world's elite.