Morocco and Brazil will meet in a friendly meeting at the Ibn Batouta Stadium on Saturday as they get their next phases underway.
The first international break of 2023 is underway, and a few big hitters will be in friendly action in the coming days. These include two of the teams that created several talking points at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We are talking about Morocco and Brazil, who will lock horns at the Ibn Batouta Stadium on Saturday.
Morocco raised many eyebrows at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as they reached the semi-finals. And they usurped many high-profile teams along the way, with Belgium, Spain, and Portugal among their victims. And despite failing to finish on the podium, the Atlas Lions made history and will be in football folklore forever.
On the other hand, Brazil embarked on another forgettable campaign where they promised much but did not deliver the desired results. The Selecao bowed out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals, going down in penalties against Croatia. And that spelt the end of Tite’s reign as the head coach. They are yet to appoint Tite’s replacement, with Ramon Menezes taking interim charge.
Morocco and Brazil have locked horns twice previously, with the Selecao winning both fixtures. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Morocco
اللائحة الرسمية لأسود الأطلس 🦁
🔥 Squad list : Team is ready !#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #AtlasLions #TeamMorocco pic.twitter.com/C2WRiodR3M
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) March 13, 2023
Walid Regragui has not made many changes to the squad he took to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The only notable absentees are midfielders, with Selim Amallah and Amine Harit among those missing out due to injuries.
Regragui should retain most of the team he usually picked at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. So Yassine Bounou will take his spot between the sticks, with Morocco lining up in a 4-3-3 formation ahead of him.
Romain Saiss is fit again after putting his body on the line in the knockout stages of the World Cup. And the veteran defender should form the central defensive partnership alongside Nayef Aguerd. Meanwhile, Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui will likely start as the full-backs.
Azzedine Ounahi was one of the breakout stars of the World Cup and earned a move to Marseille on the back of his heroics. He will look to continue making his mark and should line up alongside Sofyan Amrabat and Abdelhamid Sabiri in the middle of the park.
As for the offensive unit, Youssef En-Nesyri will spearhead the attack for Morocco against Brazil. And Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal should be the two wide attackers. Ziyech, in particular, will be itching to make his mark after a few frustrating months at Chelsea after the World Cup.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Sabiri; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
Brazil
Unlike his counterpart in the Morocco dugout, Ramon Menezes has named a much-changed squad ahead of the trip to Tangier. Brazil’s interim head coach has omitted several pivotal figures from the latest squad. There is also an injection of youth in the call-ups.
Alisson, Raphinha, and Gabriel Jesus are among the notable absentees. Meanwhile, Neymar and Richarlison are injured, while Marquinhos and Dani Alves have retired. At the same time, there are call-ups for several prodigious youngsters, including Andrey Santos, Robert Renan, and Vitor Roque.
Convocados anunciados! 🤩🇧🇷
O treinador Ramon Menezes divulgou os 23 atletas que farão parte do grupo que disputará o amistoso contra Marrocos, no dia 25 de março, na cidade de Tânger.
Dos jogadores, nove vestirão a Amarelinha pela primeira vez.
Vamos com tudo! 💛💪 pic.twitter.com/x6r531igVz
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) March 3, 2023
Some of those players should feature on Saturday, with Santos likely taking the field from the get-go. The 18-year-old should join Casemiro and Lucas Paqueta in the middle of the park. Meanwhile, Casemiro will don the armband following Silva’s retirement.
As for the defensive unit, Gleison Bremer and Eder Militao should form the central defensive partnership. The duo will herald the beginning of a new generation of potential world-beaters for Brazil. Meanwhile, Emerson Royal and Renan Lodi will be the two full-backs, with Ederson Moraes taking his place between the sticks in Alisson’s absence.
Moving on to the attack, Richarlison’s absence will prompt Menezes to be clever with his decisions in the final third. And Rodrygo should spearhead the attack, with Vinicius Junior and Antony being the wide attackers. Meanwhile, Vitor Roque should appear off the bench to make his debut.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ederson; Emerson, Militao, Bremer, Lodi; Paqueta, Casemiro, Santos; Antony, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.
Key Stats
- Morocco and Brazil have met twice thus far, with the Selecao winning both games.
- Brazil kept a clean sheet in both meetings against Morocco, finding the back of the net five times.
- Morocco conceded only five goals in seven games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- Eight of Morocco’s last 11 games have featured fewer than three goals. Meanwhile, both teams have scored in just two of Morocco’s most recent 11 matches
- Brazil have drawn one of their most recent 12 matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Vitor Roque
Vitor Roque words on future and more to @diarioas 🇧🇷
▫️ “I don’t have a favorite club, I’m just focused on the present and then we will see”.
▪️ “My idol is Neymar Jr, and of course I want to try Champions League football one day”.
▫️ “Raphinha? I don’t play for Barça… yet”. pic.twitter.com/GoViakNGdc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 22, 2023
The Brazilian squad is missing several familiar names. But that should not deter Ramon Menezes and his charges. Instead, the visitors will see several of the young blood take the opportunity to make a mark. One such player should be Vitor Roque.
The teenage sensation has become the talk of the town after guiding Brazil to the Under-20 South American Championships. And he has the world at his feet as he chases a move to Barcelona. But for now, he will be focused on enjoying a memorable debut, which should happen off the bench on Saturday.
Prediction
Morocco 1-1 Brazil
Morocco made a name at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by frustrating almost every opponent in Qatar. And Brazil will find that out the hard way when the two teams face off at the Ibn Batouta Stadium.
However, the in-form Vinicius Junior might find a way past the hosts’ rearguard, while Hakim Ziyech will make his mark for the Atlas Lions. In the end, there might not be much to separate the two sides. And The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between the two sides in Tangier this weekend.
