WILL MOROCCO BE THE DARK HORSE?

Regragui is hoping that his side can spring a surprise although they’re considered underdogs

MOROCCO continued preparing for its second match in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 against Belgium at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday.

The Atlas Lions went through closed training sessions under the watchful eyes of Walid Regragui, who worked with the team to finetune technique and tactics.

The Moroccans, who are participating in the World Cup for the sixth time, share second place in the group standings with Croatia with one point.

Belgium, who beat Canada 1-0, are looking for their third victory at the World Cup finals, since its debut 1970 in Mexico.

The possibility of Moroccan Noussair Mazraoui’s participation in Sunday’s match is remote. The 25-year-old suffered a hip injury in the opening game against Croatia.

“Mazraoui will also miss training today. But I hope we will have him back tomorrow,” Regragui said on Saturday.

“We still have 24 hours before the match. We will decide that tomorrow morning and we will also have to weigh up how big a risk we will take.”

Mazraoui, signed from Ajax Amsterdam in the close season, is the fifth Bayern player to suffer an injury before or during the World Cup in Qatar.

Bouna Sarr and Sadio Mané (both Senegal) missed the tournament completely.

Morocco will be hoping for a positive result against the Belgians in Sunday’s second match.

The encounter will be a revenge match of sorts with the Moroccans awaiting their chance to make amends against Belgium, who won against them with a free goal at the 1994 World Cup in the USA.

Morocco’s first victory in the World Cup came in 1986 in Mexico, when they beat Portugal 3-1, before waiting 12 years to achieve their second victory, when they trounced Scotland 3-0 in 1998 in France.

Belgium hopes for a win to reach the round of 16 after they narrowly overcame Canada in their first match.

Hakeem Ziyach, who plays in the midfield for Chelsea, will lead the line, while Ashraf Hakimi is a sure starter after recovering from a minor muscle injury.

Belgian coach Roberto Martinez admitted that his team did not play well against Canada, but took comfort from the three points they notched up from the game. “Winning when you do not play well does not happen by chance. We should have shown a different side in our game, we defended really well.”

Morocco aim for their third victory in the premier football tournament. In 17 World Cup meetings so far, they have two wins, six draws and nine defeats.

Interestingly, the two victories came at the expense of two European teams, Portugal in 1986 and Scotland 12 years later.

The participation of injured Nousair Mazraoui in today’s match seems unlikely