Moroccan Midfielder Yet to Make an Appearance in World Cup
Sofyan Amrabat, the 29-year-old midfielder who played for Real Betis last season, has yet to see any action during the ongoing World Cup. Morocco recently celebrated a significant victory against Scotland in Foxborough, marking their first win in this tournament. However, Amrabat was once again left out of the lineup, failing to make an appearance in both the opening match against Brazil, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and the subsequent game against Scotland, which Morocco won 1-0. Despite being a standout player for Morocco during the 2022 World Cup, where the team emerged as a surprising contender, he has not been utilized by the Moroccan coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, who has opted for other players to fill key positions in the midfield.
In the match against Scotland, Ouahbi selected El Aynaoui from AS Roma, Ounahi, also from Roma, and the young talent Bouaddi from Lille to form his midfield. They were supported by Brahim Díaz and El Khannouss on the wings, with Saibari leading the attack. Although substitutes such as Talbi, Amaimouni, Rahimi, and El Mourabet were brought into the game, Ouahbi did not deem it necessary to give Amrabat any minutes on the field. This decision mirrored his strategy from the previous match against Brazil, where the starting lineup remained unchanged, and the same substitutions were made, albeit with a full rotation of players.
As the tournament progresses, Amrabat will continue to wait for his chance to contribute to his national team. His next potential opportunity will come Thursday when Morocco faces Haiti in their last group stage match. Following the World Cup, Amrabat's future at the club level will come into focus, as he is set to return to Fenerbahçe after his loan spell at Betis. Negotiations will likely ensue between the two clubs regarding the possibility of extending his stay in Spain.
As reported by abc.es.
