RABAT, Morocco –
Striker Youssef En-Nesyri was chosen in Morocco’s squad for the World Cup on Thursday regardless of failing to attain a league objective this season for Spanish membership Sevilla.
En-Nesyri is skilled with the nationwide group, nonetheless, making 49 worldwide appearances and scoring 14 objectives, together with one on the 2018 World Cup. But he faces competitors for a beginning place from Abderrazak Hamdallah, who performs for Saudi membership Al-Ittihad.
Central defender Nayef Aguerd, who performs for Premier League membership West Ham, was additionally included. Aguerd damage his knee within the low season.
Bayern Munich proper again Noussair Mazraoui presents good cowl for Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi at proper again. Hakimi is likely one of the finest attacking fullbacks in world soccer and has tempo, ability, good passing and one eye on capturing with eight objectives in 53 video games for Morocco.
Romain Saiss brings a whole lot of expertise in central protection with 64 worldwide appearances and 4 strong seasons with Premier League membership Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier than becoming a member of Turkish group Besiktas this season.
Sofyan Amrabat and Abdelhamid Sabiri convey some solidity to midfield. They each play in Italy, with Fiorentina and Sampdoria, respectively. Marseille midfielder Amine Harit presents sturdy technical capability can beat gamers for ability, however he’s vulnerable to giving the ball away an excessive amount of.
If En-Nesyri’s scoring drought continues, Morocco’s predominant objective threats might come from Chelsea ahead Hakim Ziyech and Angers winger Sofiane Boufal, who has scored 4 of his 5 worldwide objectives for Morocco this 12 months. Ziyech has netted 17 objectives for Morocco since his worldwide debut in 2015.
Morocco has a tricky attract Group F. The group opens in opposition to 2018 World Cup runner-up Croatia on Nov. 23 earlier than dealing with 2018 semifinalist Belgium after which Canada on Dec. 1.
The nationwide group is enjoying in its sixth World Cup after making its first look in 1970. In 1986, the Atlas Lions grew to become the primary African group to succeed in the knockout spherical, dropping to West Germany 1-0 within the spherical of 16.
MOROCCO SQUAD IN FULL
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir Mohamedi (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad AC)
Defenders: Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Yahia Attiyat Allah (Wydad AC), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC), Achraf Dari (Brest), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Roman Saiss (Besiktas)
Midfielders: Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Bilal El Khannous (Genk), Amine Harit (Marseille), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad AC), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria)
Forwards: Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Sofiane Boufal (Angers), Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers), Walid Cheddira (Bari), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Ittihad), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)