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Rabat – Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi says the Atlas Lions must approach their World Cup round-of-32 match against the Netherlands with a different plan and the right knockout-stage mentality.
Morocco will face the Dutch in Monterrey after completing the group stage unbeaten, collecting seven points from matches against Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
Ouahbi said those performances showed the team’s quality and character, but warned that previous results will not decide the next game.
“In the last three matches, we showed that we are capable of producing good performances and that we have a strong personality on the pitch,” he said.
“But tomorrow’s match is different and requires different solutions. That is the mentality with which we will enter the game.”
Morocco enter knockout stage
The match will be Morocco’s fourth at the tournament and their first since the competition moved into its knockout phase.
Unlike the group stage, there is no opportunity to recover from a defeat.
“Tomorrow, we will play our fourth World Cup match, and it is our first in the knockout stage,” Ouahbi said.
“It is a game that cannot be shared between two teams. We fully understand the nature of this stage.”
The coach added that Morocco would continue to rely on the qualities that helped them progress from a difficult group.
“We will continue to do what we are good at in the best possible way,” he said.
Morocco opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Brazil before defeating Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2.
The Atlas Lions finished second in Group C behind Brazil on goal difference, setting up a meeting with Group F winners the Netherlands.
The Dutch also collected seven points and secured first place after defeating Sweden and Tunisia and drawing with Japan.
Ouahbi managed players’ minutes
Ouahbi also discussed the physical condition of his players following three demanding group matches.
He explained that Morocco used their final game against Haiti to manage the squad’s workload and maintain a balance in the number of minutes played by different members of the team.
“From a physical point of view, in the third match we succeeded in managing the playing time in the way we wanted,” he said.
“We were not certain that we would reach this stage, but we wanted to create balance in the number of minutes played by the squad.”
Ouahbi made several changes during the Haiti match, allowing more players to gain World Cup minutes before the knockout stage.
The coach said the decision was designed to keep the entire group involved and ready.
“I was keen to distribute the playing time across the squad so that every player had the opportunity to participate,” he explained.
“That also allows the whole team to be in the best possible condition.”
His comments suggest Morocco will enter the Netherlands match with several options available, both in the starting lineup and from the bench.
Different test against the Netherlands
The Netherlands are expected to offer a different challenge from Morocco’s three group opponents.
Ouahbi did not reveal his tactical plan, but his comments indicated that Morocco will adapt their approach while maintaining the confidence they developed during the group stage.
The Atlas Lions showed that they could compete without the ball against Brazil, protect a narrow lead against Scotland and respond after falling behind against Haiti.
The Netherlands, however, possess strong individual quality, physical power and several attacking options.
For Ouahbi, Morocco’s task will be to find the correct balance between respecting the opponent and remaining faithful to their own football.
The coach has repeatedly said that Morocco must enter every match believing they can win, while also preparing carefully for the specific qualities of each opponent.
Monday’s game will be Morocco’s first World Cup knockout match since their historic run to the semifinals in Qatar four years ago.
Ouahbi believes the group stage proved that his players are ready for the pressure.
The next challenge is to show the same character in a match where only one team can continue its World Cup journey.
