Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Dutch-born forward player Anwar El Ghazi might represent Morocco over the Netherlands in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
“I live from day to day, but the World Cup is definitely still an option,” El Ghazi told the Dutch daily newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad on Sunday after contributing to Philips Sport Vereniging’s (PSV) 3-0 victory against NEC Nijmegen.
The forward said that “the Moroccan federation is working” on the matter, stressing that there is still a chance for him to secure a World Cup ticket with only a few weeks left until the tournament.
Born in Barendrecht, El Ghazi debuted in the Netherlands’ U-17 team in September 2011 before joining the U-18, U-20, and U-21 divisions over the following three years. On October 10, 2015, the Moroccan-Dutch player made his debut with the senior team at 20 years of age.
After playing only two games with the Oranje in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers, El Ghazi is currently considering joining the Atlas Lions. Although, it is up to the Moroccan federation and head coach Walid Regragui to make the final call.
Read Also: Qatar World Cup: FIFA Unveils Morocco’s Must-Watch 5 Players
According to converging news reports, El Ghazi chose the Oranje on Cristiano Ronaldo’s advice.
In 2015, the footballer told Ajax’s official website that his choice was informed on feedback from his parents, family members, personal trainer, and Cristiano Ronaldo. “I have thought about it for a long time,” he stated.
Since then, the former Ajax player has played for a selection of European football clubs.
This summer; El Ghazi left England’s Aston Villa FC to join the Netherlands’ PSV for £3.5 million ($4 million or MAD 44 million) after a four-year stay in Birmingham. With PSV, he scored one goal in four games in the UEFA Europa League and helped his team win 2-0 against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The recent performance of the Moroccan-Dutch player appears to be promising. Yet, it remains unclear whether El Ghazi will be able to play for Morocco in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In September, Morocco’s Head Coach Walid Regragui selected 32 players to take part in the upcoming games. The list included Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, and Zakaria Aboukhlal. However, the squad list could be modified over the next few days as the Qatar World Cup approaches.
