[Africa Group5]
6 Matches 5 Wins 1 Tie 0 Loss (16 points)
| 11/9/96 | Vs. Sierra Leone | Draw | 1-1 |
| 1/12/97 | Vs. Ghana | Lose | 1-0 |
| 4/6/97 | Vs. Gabon | Lose | 2-1 |
| 4/26/97 | Vs. Sierra Leone | Win | 1-0 |
| 6/7/97 | Vs. Ghana | Draw | 1-1 |
| 8/17/97 | Vs. Gabon | Win | 0-1 |
| Offense |
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Defense |
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| Organization |
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Experience |
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| Talent |
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Capacity to surprise |
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Led by French coach Henri Michel, the Moroccan team features speed and technique. Basically, the Moroccans set up their game with fast ball movement and many direct passes. Also, they have many players who are particularly good dribblers, but it is questionable whether or not this will work under the severe pressure of narrow spaces. To put it another way, it can be said that this team also has the possibility of turning out to be so fragile that if it loses its momentum that it falls apart.
First, it is safe to say that all the horses are lined up on the defense. The libero Naybet is reliable. He is quite a talent and has a proven track record built up with La Gorunya and has a fine reputation for seizing opportunities to participate in the attack. Hadrioui on the left plays for Benfica and specializes in free kicks. Triki who serves the forerunner role in front of Naybet as the center back also has experience from the last World Cup. The only source of uncertainty is the right side. At this time, the talented feet of Saber are bearing much expectations.
The midfield is fluid, but it seems that Chippo and Chiba will be the double volantes with Wakiri, Hadji, Azzouzi, etc. in offensive positions. Haji is a key player and the player on the team from whom the most is expected and many will be watching to see whether or not he can restore his honor from the last World Cup. The other attacker will be either Bassir or Raghib, but this is still fluid.
*FEDERATION ROYALE
MAROCAINE DE
FOOTBALL
[Address]
- Av.ibn. Sina, C.N.S.
- Bellevue, BP51-Robat
[Established] 1955
*4th World Cup
(1970, 1986, 1994, 1998)
No championships |
Nourredine NAYBET
* DF
Naybet is a libero who has used his experience from the 1994 World Cup to develop the techniques for taking the team in hand.
Naybet is a critical player for the Moroccans as he takes he team in hand from the rearmost libero. He has a secure fine reputation for seizing opportunities to participate aggressively in the attack and is a clever technician. Naybet started his career with the local Casablanca team and signed a pro contract with Nantes in 1992, then played with Sportiv of Portugal and now plays for La Gorunya in Spain as a libero and has secured a regular position. He has experience from the 1994 World Cup in the United States but it can not be said that he was able to completely play his game there and his motivation for this World Cup is that much higher. He is only 27, but is already an indispensable presence for the Moroccans.
Henri MICHEL
This French coach was invited to take over the Moroccan team in 1995 in order to rebuild it. In his playing days, he was with Nantes and has the experience of appearing in the 1978 World Cup as a player. He was a top player with 52 matches with the French national team. From 1982, he was the coach of the French Olympic soccer squad and in 1984 captured the gold medal. After that he rose to the coach of the national A team and in 1986 with the golden midfield of Platini, Siles, Tigana, and Fernandez, he led the team to a sterling 3rd place finish. He was born in 1947 in the Provence region of France.
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