France Must Be Even More Efficient in Attack Against Morocco, Says Deschampshttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5293783-france-must-be-even-more-efficient-attack-against-morocco-says-deschamps
France Must Be Even More Efficient in Attack Against Morocco, Says Deschamps
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - France Press Conference - Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 France coach Didier Deschamps during the press conference. (Reuters)
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France Must Be Even More Efficient in Attack Against Morocco, Says Deschamps
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - France Press Conference - Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 France coach Didier Deschamps during the press conference. (Reuters)
France have scored a tournament-leading 14 goals in the World Cup so far but coach Didier Deschamps urged his players on Wednesday to achieve even greater attacking efficiency when they take on Morocco in Thursday's quarter-final.
The meeting is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, when France ended Morocco's historic run in Qatar, but this time the North Africans are no longer the surprise outsiders but a confident side aiming for the title.
"We have to be efficient, offensively speaking," Deschamps told a press conference. "In all the areas both teams have strong assets."
"We are efficient but we could have done better on this front. Sometimes you have six chances and score two goals and sometimes you have two chances and score twice. It is more important to be efficient."
France edged past Paraguay in the round of 16 with a scrappy 1-0 win courtesy of a Kylian Mbappe penalty. The France captain has seven goals in the tournament, second behind Argentina's Lionel Messi, who has eight.
Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola have given France one of the most dangerous forward lines at the World Cup.
Morocco eased through their group stage, before knocking out Netherlands and co-hosts Canada, and confirming their status as serious title contenders.
"Morocco's profile is not the one of Paraguay. We met them four years ago in the semi-finals," Deschamps said. "They played the AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) final. They have top individuals. They are not here to play. They are here to win. We have to be ready and perform and deliver against this great team."
Deschamps will need to wait and see whether midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who has been nursing a muscle injury, will be fit in time for the game.
"He feels better but I left early from the hotel this morning. I cannot say more. He might take part in training today. All other players they are available," Deschamps said.
As for France's appeal to have Michael Olise's yellow card in the game against Paraguay rescinded, Deschamps said FIFA had informed them the caution stood.
The ruling comes days after the furor caused by FIFA's decision to suspend a match ban after a red card was given to US player Folarin Balogun and following an intervention by President Donald Trump.
France v Morocco Rematch as World Cup Quarter-Finals Get Under Wayhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5293556-france-v-morocco-rematch-world-cup-quarter-finals-get-under-way
Morocco's Ayoub Amaimouni (21), Neil El Aynaoui (24), Achraf Hakimi (2), Brahim Diaz (10) and Gessime Yassine (16) celebrate after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP)
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France v Morocco Rematch as World Cup Quarter-Finals Get Under Way
Morocco's Ayoub Amaimouni (21), Neil El Aynaoui (24), Achraf Hakimi (2), Brahim Diaz (10) and Gessime Yassine (16) celebrate after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP)
France begin their final push towards a third World Cup crown on Thursday when they take on Morocco in a blockbuster showdown as a star-studded quarter-final line-up kicks off.
After a month of scintillating action that has dispelled pre-tournament anxieties over sky-high ticket prices and geopolitics, the biggest, boldest and most logistically complex World Cup ever staged has been whittled down to eight teams.
France, who have emerged as the outstanding team of the tournament after a series of dazzling attacking displays, face arguably their toughest test so far in the shape of African champions Morocco at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston.
Les Bleus have surged into the last eight in style, scoring 14 goals in five games -- seven of them from in-form captain Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe is one of four star strikers who are leading the chase for the World Cup's Golden Boot as the tournament enters the home stretch.
Argentina's Lionel Messi tops the scoring chart with eight, Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland have seven each and England's Harry Kane has six.
Thursday's opening quarter-final is a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar, won 2-0 by France, who would go on to lose in the final against Argentina.
- Tactical nous -
Morocco meanwhile have looked impressive en route to the last eight, easing through the group phase before battling past the Netherlands in the last 32 and swatting aside Canada in the round of 16 last weekend.
The Atlas Lions will threaten France with a mix of technical quality, physicality and tactical nous under the guidance of coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who masterminded Morocco's shock victory in the under-20 World Cup last year.
The winner will advance to a semi-final showdown against the victor of Friday's tie in Los Angeles between European champions Spain and Belgium.
The Spaniards eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the last 16 on Monday to advance with a clinical 1-0 victory.
England's midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham (L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate forward #09 Harry Kane (R) during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Mexico and England at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on July 5, 2026. (AFP)
While La Roja haven't hit the dizzying attacking heights of France, they will fancy their chances of navigating a Belgium side who have slowly built momentum over the course of the tournament.
Belgium struggled through the group phase with lackluster draws in their first two matches before routing New Zealand 5-1 to secure their place in the knockout rounds.
They came back from the dead in the last 32 to beat Senegal 3-2, when they had trailed 2-0 with four minutes to go, before dismantling the United States 4-1 with arguably their best display of the tournament in Seattle on Monday.
- Houdini act -
On the other side of the draw, holders Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after staggering into the quarter-finals.
The South Americans, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962, were given an almighty scare by Cape Verde in the last 32 before winning 3-2 in extra-time.
On Tuesday, Messi inspired an incredible Houdini act in a 3-2 defeat of Egypt in Atlanta, when the reigning champions recovered from 2-0 down with 11 minutes of normal time remaining to snatch victory.
Messi was reduced to tears of relief after that roller coaster victory.
"We wanted to stay in the tournament," the Argentina captain said afterwards.
"We didn't want today to be the end, we didn't want to go home."
The winner of Argentina-Switzerland will face either Norway or England in the semi-finals in Atlanta next week.
England advanced to the last eight on Sunday with a pulsating 3-2 defeat of Mexico in the Azteca Stadium, winning an extraordinary, drama-filled contest which has given the Three Lions renewed belief in their bid to win a first major title since 1966.
England's talismanic midfield star Jude Bellingham says the victory reinforced his belief that the Three Lions can claim the ultimate prize -- and wants his team-mates to feel the same.
"I'm convinced of it and I hope that a win like this can give them that same conviction that they're top players and we shouldn't fear anyone," Bellingham said.
Blocking England's path is a formidable Norway side spearheaded by the irrepressible Haaland, who scored both goals in Sunday's last 16 win over Brazil.
"We have to study England but obviously we have seen them in their previous games in the tournament and they will be a very strong opponent, but hopefully it will be a very even and tight game," Norway coach Stale Solbakken said.
World Cup Grind Beginning to Take Its Toll on Norway Squad, Says Coachhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5293547-world-cup-grind-beginning-take-its-toll-norway-squad-says-coach
Norway's head coach Stale Solbakken gives a press conference in Montclair, New Jersey, on July, 6, 2026 during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
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World Cup Grind Beginning to Take Its Toll on Norway Squad, Says Coach
Norway's head coach Stale Solbakken gives a press conference in Montclair, New Jersey, on July, 6, 2026 during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Norway coach Stale Solbakken said some of his players have been feeling under the weather ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against England on Saturday, as a month of travel, training and high-pressure games begins to take its toll on the squad.
Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen is one of those dealing with health issues, Solbakken added.
"We've really only had Jorgen who has had a fever, but then there's been a bit of coughing and rasping scattered throughout," Solbakken told reporters. "But there's air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all that.
"There's 50 people (in Norway's travelling party), so it would be strange if something or other didn't crop up."
Marcus Holmgren Pedersen missed the 2-1 win over Brazil in the round of 16 due to illness, though Solbakken thought the pressure of the World Cup experience may also have affected the 25-year-old.
"I think, without being a doctor, that it's a combination of the boy being young, he's come to the World Cup and thought, 'I'm going to be a backup for Julian (Ryerson)', he's had two games and played great," Solbakken explained.
"He's got a lot of stimulation, his head is full, his body is full of impressions, and then the system collapses a bit."
Morocco Coach Ouahbi Proving Doubters Wrong at World Cuphttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5293516-morocco-coach-ouahbi-proving-doubters-wrong-world-cup
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Canada v Morocco - Fans gather in Vancouver - Vancouver, Canada - July 4, 2026 Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi gives instructions to players during a hydration break. (Reuters)
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Morocco Coach Ouahbi Proving Doubters Wrong at World Cup
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Canada v Morocco - Fans gather in Vancouver - Vancouver, Canada - July 4, 2026 Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi gives instructions to players during a hydration break. (Reuters)
When Mohamed Ouahbi was a student a professor told him he lacked the necessary skills to become a physical education teacher.
In coaching Morocco to the World Cup quarter-finals with an attractive brand of football, Ouahbi has comprehensively proved him wrong.
The 49-year-old Belgium-born coach is yet to lose a match at the tournament and Morocco have an enticing quarter-final date with two-time World Cup winners France in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Thursday.
"I remember (the professor) very well my first year of studying," Ouahbi told French football magazine Onze Mondial this month.
"A professor told me that in his opinion I was not made for teaching, to giving lessons, or communicating."
Ouahbi has made him eat humble pie ever since.
What he failed to achieve on the pitch as a player he has delivered as a coach, although the bulk of his experience has been in developing young talent.
Until he was named Morocco coach just three months before the World Cup to replace Walid Regragui, he had never coached senior players, apart from one season as assistant coach at storied Belgian club Anderlecht.
He had earned his spurs in coaching under-age players, spending 17 years at Anderlecht where Belgium World Cup stars Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku were among his proteges.
His years of labor with the youngsters paid off when he guided Morocco to the World Under-20 title last year. Morocco beat France on penalties in the semi-finals and overcame Argentina in the final.
Obviously the task on Thursday in facing a vibrant France side led by superstar Kylian Mbappe is a tougher challenge but Ouahbi has gained the confidence of former international players.
"There were question marks over his ability to coach a side full of stars, but what we saw in the friendlies was promising," ex-Morocco international midfielder Abdelaziz Bennij told AFP.
"He arrived at a time when everyone was worried ... it was a huge gamble and he has succeeded."
- 'Brought added value' -
Ouahbi's background with the under-age players will have served him well in dealing with the prodigiously talented 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, a former France Under-21 star who pledged his allegiance to Morocco shortly before the World Cup.
He has also gained praise for adding elan to the team he took over from Regragui.
Ouahbi's predecessor's counter-attacking style, although hugely successful -- Morocco reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals before losing to France and won the Africa Cup of Nations final this year -- had become increasingly unpopular.
His more crowd-pleasing style -- with new Bayern Munich signing Ismael Saibari to the fore -- was on show in the 1-1 draw with Brazil in the group stage and then the last 32 win on penalties over the Netherlands.
"He has imposed his style on two footballing giants, notably against the Netherlands," Moroccan great Aziz Bouderbala told AFP.
"He knew how to control the match and came up with an imaginative offensive strategy without losing the defensive solidity.
"Ouahbi has brought added value, and has not been content to just carry on in the same style as before."
It is not only former players who have been impressed but also those closer to home.
"My father is very proud of me," said Ouahbi, who has three children.
"My papa wears suits the whole time and in the Brussels neighbourhood where they live he is called 'Al Pacino'.
"He is always in a suit and tie but now when I give him my tracksuits, he wears those instead!"
Ouahbi, though, is not one for soaking up the praise all for himself -- he prefers a more collegiate approach.
"I try always to include everyone in the project," he told Onze Mondiale.
"I never ever express myself in the first person: I always use 'one' or 'we'.
"The moment I speak in the first person I will put distance between myself and this collective logic.
"It is a staff above all else. Someone who thinks he will succeed alone will not do so... well neither for long nor in the correct manner."
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