In any football competition, it us the team with the best defenses that tends to progress further and in this World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Morocco, the sole survivor from the African continent, has the best defense.
There is a good reason for that and it is the presence if some of the top defenders in their ranks as proven by the match against Spain won by Morocco in penalties after a goaless draw.
Morocco took only one goal against them in the group stage and this is another indication if their defensive ability.
Argentina, England, France, conceded two goals during the group stage and Portugal, their mighty adversary in the quarter finals, the first Moriccao is playing this week, took 4 goals in their net, shoeing that they might have a bit if a problem protecting their goal line in this tournament. They are the team that has the worst defense that are qualified for the lat 8.
The Atlas Lions have already kept clean sheets against the heavyweight European trio of Belgium, Croatia and Spain.
And yes, we have to agree that the got one of the best defensive record at Qatar 2022.
With only three months to shape them into the disciplined team we see here in Qatar, coach Walid Regragui’s level of organisation and teamwork is all the more impressive.
The Atlas Lions have only let up one goal in their eight games under his leadership, and it was an own goal from a horribly deflected Canadian cross.
Portugal has one plus though, they are the me of the best attacking side having scored 12) goals.
Morocco’s statistics
According to statistics, their matchup with Morocco in the quarterfinals pits the competition’s strongest defence against its worst. The reality is, unavoidably, a little more complicated, with Portugal’s back four being led by the dependable Pepe and a center-back, Ruben Dias, who is regarded as one of the greatest in the world.
For what it’s worth, Portugal also allowed four goals in the group stage of their victorious UEFA EURO 2016 campaign, but they still managed to win the tournament after blanking Croatia, Wales, and the host nation in the knockout stages. Coincidence? Or another instance of football’s past reoccurring? All will become clear in Qatar in the days to come
But we are sure they will find the Moroccans a tough nut to crack, unless luck is on their side just like in the match against Switzerland.
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