A Spanish newspaper highlights Morocco’s “weak point” ahead of their clash with Brazil

Spain’s Marca have highlighted the most glaring weaknesses in Morocco’s squad ahead of their upcoming clash against Brazil in the Atlas Lions’ 2026 World Cup campaign opener, citing a change in squad as one of the team’s biggest challenges at the tournament.

The paper points out that the Moroccan team enters the World Cup with a lot of confidence after their outstanding results in recent times, as they have managed to establish themselves as one of the most popular teams to spring a surprise, based on a strong defensive base and consistent performance, which has made them one of the most convincing African teams in recent years.

Despite these positive figures, Marca believed that the departure of former coach Walid Regraghi and Mohamed Webe to take over technical responsibility shortly before the tournament raises important questions, especially as the new coach does not have the international experience that his predecessor accumulated during the 2022 World Cup.

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The paper adds that Webb has achieved first-team leadership, backed by his achievements with Sunni groups, notably leading Morocco to win the Under-20 World Cup in 2025, but the World Cup test remains completely different in terms of pressure and strength of competition.

The report also notes that Morocco have retained the tactical identity that has created their recent success, relying on defensive organization, strong pressing and quick transitions, in addition to a 4-2-3-1 formation that allows more freedom for frontline players.

In terms of strengths, Marca praised Morocco’s numbers during World Cup qualifying after they were the only African side to reach the full mark, winning all eight matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding just two thanks to a solid defensive and attacking performance led by striker Ayoub El Kaabi.

The paper also took the time to talk about Ashraf Hakimi, describing him as the “soul of the team” and one of the most important keys to playing, given his huge offensive and defensive impact and his experience at major tournaments, making him one of the most popular players expected to shine during the current World Cup.

Morocco open their tournament campaign with a strong clash against the Brazilian national team, a test that will reveal early the extent of the Atlas Lions’ ability to overcome the question marks raised by the Spanish press and realize their ambitions on the pitch.