Mazraoui: ‘We Can Make History’ in Qatar World Cup

Rabat - Moroccan right back Noussair Mazraoui recently highlighted his team’s potential to “make history” in the coming World Cup in Qatar, as the country is set to face Croatia, Belgium, and Canada in Group F. 

"I think that, technically speaking, we're one of the strongest teams who will be at the World Cup,” Mazraoui said in an interview with Bayern Munich’s website. 

While most fans agree that Morocco’s Atlas Lions are expected to play tough games against their European peers in the group phase, Mezraoui is “convinced of the quality of our team.”

In Croatia and Belgium, we have the 2018 World Cup runners-up and third-place finishers in our group, so that first stage will, correspondingly, be very challenging.,” the player explained. “However, I think we also have a chance in this group, it depends on our performance.”

On November 10, Morocco’s recently-appointed head coach Walid Regragui announced the list of the 26 players to take part in the World Cup. The list included world-class players with solid international football careers such as Paris Saint German’s Achraf Hakimi, Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, Sevilla’s Yassine Bono, and Al-Ittihad’s Abderrazak Hamdallah. 

According to Mazraoui, the squad consists of “an excellent mix with a lot of young players and some older ones who are already enjoying a great career and can provide the necessary experience.”

While some sports commentators and fans have expressed doubts over the squad’s possible success at the world cup, the Atlas Lions’ performance in Thursday’s friendly game against Georgiademonstrated strong teamwork between all members, including the latest addition to the team, Anass Zaroury. 

The Moroccan-Belgian midfielder officially joined the squad on Wednesday as a replacement for the injured Amine Harit.

As the world prepares for the Qatar World Cup to kick off on Sunday, Moroccan fans are excited for the opening game against 2018 World Cup runner-up Croatia. 

The game will take place on November 23, at 11:00 am local time, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. It should provide a major test for the Moroccan squad, ahead of the two matches against Belgium and Canada. 

But the Atlas Lions and their fans maintain the mindset of a winner.

“You shouldn't start a journey where you don't believe in a happy ending,” Mezraoui noted. “And that's why we're going into the tournament with the attitude that we want to win it.”

Source: moroccoworldnews