The hope of Morocco to finish with France FIFA World Cup The title charge suffered a significant setback, with in-form striker Ismael Saibari ruled out of Thursday’s blockbuster quarter-final with a hamstring injury.Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed on the eve of the competition that the PSV Eindhoven star has failed to recover after picking up the injury during Morocco’s 3-0 Round of 16 win over Canada, depriving the Atlas Lions of one of their most influential players for the biggest game of their campaign.“He’s not ready, but I hope it’s not the end of the tournament for him,” Ouahbi told reporters.Saibari has been one of Morocco’s standouts at the tournament, scoring in all three of their group stage games before converting the decisive penalty in the shootout win over the Netherlands in the Round of 32. His absence leaves a big hole in Morocco’s attack as they attempt to upset two-time world champions France and reach the World Cup semi-finals for the second tournament in a row.
Ouahbi refuses to change Morocco’s approach
Despite losing one of their key attacking weapons, Ouahbi insisted Morocco will not abandon the style of play that took them into the last eight.“As for the preparation for the match, there will be no surprises. I have nothing to hide. I am not someone who is nice to surprises, and those of you who have analyzed our games, you know that we have a clear idea of how we want to play,” he said.The Moroccan coach said patience in possession and smart movement will be crucial against Didier Deschamps’ side.“Of course, the key will be to hurt when we have possession, but it’s not only on the wings. We have to be patient with the ball, and to find where we can pass through the sides or in the center. We proved that we can hurt any team, and that’s the goal,” he added.The quarter-final is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, where France ended Morocco’s historic run with a 2-0 win. However, Ouahbi believes both teams have evolved considerably since then.“Every match is different. We have a different team, and we will face a different French team than four years ago,” he said.Rejecting suggestions that just reaching the quarter-finals will satisfy his players, Ouahbi added: “France might be favourites, but we will do everything possible to win. Being at this stage is not a bonus. The bonus is to win the World Cup.”
France sees another deep World Cup run
France enter the clash in Foxborough with a perfect five-match record and are chasing a third consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final. Kylian Mbappé led the charge with seven goals, while Ousmane DembeleMichael Olise and Bradley Barcola complete a formidable attack.Deschamps warned against underestimating Morocco despite Saibari’s absence.“We met them four years ago in the semi-finals. They are a really big and excellent team with top quality individuals. I’m not here to play. I’m here to win,” he said.The French coach also dismissed concerns over the off-field controversies surrounding Mbappe, insisting: “Kylian is fine… He’s just focused on tomorrow’s game.”Morocco, unbeaten in 10 games since the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, are still chasing a first win in France after four defeats and two draws in six previous matches. The winners will face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals.
