On June 18, 2023, Morocco and Scotland are set to face off in Boston as they compete in what has turned out to be a surprisingly open Group C in the World Cup. Brazil's performance against Morocco raised questions, while Scotland, currently leading the group with three points, aims to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in its history.
Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed his team's ambition, stating, "We are ambitious, and we have football" after Morocco managed a respectable 1-1 draw against Brazil. This outcome was not unexpected, as the Atlas Lions are the administrative champions of Africa and the reigning semifinalists of the tournament.
In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Morocco triumphed in the 'Group of Death' alongside Belgium, Croatia, and Canada, finishing undefeated with seven points. Against Scotland, Morocco will look to pave its way towards the knockout rounds, propelled by standout players such as Bono, Brahim Díaz, captain Achraf Hakimi, and Ismael Saibari, who scored against Brazil and hails from the Catalan town of Terrassa.
Remarkably, in their match against Brazil, Morocco became the first team in World Cup history to field eleven players born in foreign countries, representing nations such as Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada. On the other hand, Scotland, returning to the World Cup after a 28-year absence, seeks to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time ever. They enter the match against Morocco as Group C leaders, having made their presence known without much fanfare.
One notable aspect of Scotland's journey has been the enthusiastic support from their fans, the 'Tartan Army,' who have filled the streets and bars of Boston, capitalizing on the fact that they have not had to travel far during the first two matchdays. They even took over Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, creating some of the most entertaining visuals of this World Cup.
Under the guidance of coach Steve Clark and on-field leadership from Scott McTominay, Scotland secured a modest victory against Haiti in their first World Cup win in 36 years. They will be looking to elevate their performance in a crucial encounter against Morocco, which could be pivotal in determining the trajectory of the still wide-open Group C.
The only previous encounter between Morocco and Scotland occurred during the group stage of the 1998 World Cup in France, where Morocco secured a 3-0 victory, although both teams were eliminated in that stage.
Squads for the match: Scotland: Angus Gunn; Aaron Hickey, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Andy Robertson; Ben Gannon-Doak, Scott McTominay, Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn; Lawrence Shankland, and Ché Adams. Morocco: Yassine Bounou 'Bono'; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui; Neil El Aynaoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi; Brahim Díaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss, and Ismael Saibari.
The match will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
As reported by swissinfo.ch.
