Gambling on Ziyech pays off for Morocco

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iworo
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Gambling on Ziyech pays off for Morocco

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Gambling on Ziyech pays off for Morocco

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The Moroccan star is having a fantastic FIFA World Cup™ despite a difficult time of late with club and country.
  • Ziyech has scored one goal and assisted another at Qatar 2022
  • Chelsea winger scored his penalty in shootout versus Spain
  • Gifted wide player nearly left London last summer to join AC Milan
So intent was Fouzi Lekjaa, the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, on Hakim Ziyech’s return to the national team, he was willing to replace then head coach Vahid Halilhodzic to make it happen.

Indeed, Lekjaa removed the Bosnian supremo despite his success in leading the Atlas Lions through FIFA World Cup™ qualification, replacing him with the Moroccan strategist Walid Regragui. And the new coach quickly set about unifying the dressing room, clearing up any disagreements among the players, before setting them one goal: to put in a performance the country could be proud of at Qatar 2022.

In a vindication of Lekjaa’s decision, Morocco’s No7 has performed impressively at the tournament despite a lacklustre start to the season with club side Chelsea. Ziyech has played a key role in the team’s historic achievement of reaching the competition’s quarter-finals, the Atlans Lions’ Round-of-16 defeat of Spain taking them a step further than the golden generation of 1986 managed in Mexico.

At Qatar 2022, Ziyech has repaid the confidence placed in him by the Moroccan federation, his national coach and the fans who demanded his return, joining a long list of players given a chance at redemption by a World Cup.


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Out in the cold

After moving there in 2016, the now 29-year-old had several excellent seasons with Ajax, which earned him a move to Chelsea in the summer of 2020 for a fee of 40 million euros, amid strong interest from a number of big European clubs.

His first season in London was difficult, in part because of injuries and his struggles to adapt to the Premier League. Yet while most observers expected a significant improvement in his second season, 2021/22, his situation actually worsened.

The start to the 2022/23 season too has also featured frustration and disappointment, with Ziyech having played just 270 minutes in all competitions for his club, failing to record any goals or assists. This has stirred up rumours of a potential departure from Chelsea in January, especially given how close he came to being loaned to AC Milan during the last transfer window.

As Ziyech had also been away from his national setup for some time due to disagreements with previous coach Halilhodzic, new boss Regragui decided to bring him back into the fold, and he has certainly announced his return in style at Qatar 2022.

A roaring lion

While Ziyech played a part in all three of Morocco’s matches at Russia 2018 and performed very well, he and his team-mates have hit another level at this year’s tournament.

The wily left-footer played 76 minutes against Canada, having scored an excellent long-range goal to help his side to the 2-1 win which cemented their place at the top of the group. He also assisted a goal in Morocco’s pivotal 2-0 win over Belgium.

That performance against the Red Devils was arguably his best showing at the World Cup so far, and was he duly rewarded with the Player of the Match trophy. When he was asked who had helped him get to this point, he responded: “Everyone: the coach, the players and the team.”

Against Spain, Ziyech performed brilliantly in both defence and attack, causing his opponents significant problems from wide areas. He was also on target in the penalty shootout, scoring Morocco’s second attempt to give them a 2-0 lead after Yassine Bounou had saved Spain’s first two spot kicks.

The Atlas Lions’ ambitions will surely now go beyond qualification for the quarter-finals, where they face a Portugal side who thumped Switzerland in their own last-16 tie.

“We want to win the World Cup,” was the bold statement by coach Regragui, before adding: “Why shouldn’t we dream? Dreaming is human nature. If you don’t have a dream, you’ll never achieve anything.”

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Benedict Iroha
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Re: Gambling on Ziyech pays off for Morocco

Post by Benedict Iroha »

Thank God they fired that Bosnian coach who left Ziyech out of the team including the Afcon.
Last edited by Benedict Iroha on Thu Dec 08, 2022 2:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Gambling on Ziyech pays off for Morocco

Post by Kabalega »

Ziyech and Hakimi got all the attention but the real MoM was Sofyan Amrabat. :thumbs: :thumbs:
Every team needs an Amrabat.
“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”- Sun Tzu
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Re: Gambling on Ziyech pays off for Morocco

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Kabalega wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:55 am Ziyech and Hakimi got all the attention but the real MoM was Sofyan Amrabat. :thumbs: :thumbs:
Every team needs an Amrabat.
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Re: Gambling on Ziyech pays off for Morocco

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Kabalega wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:55 am Ziyech and Hakimi got all the attention but the real MoM was Sofyan Amrabat. :thumbs: :thumbs:
Every team needs an Amrabat.

The #4,
You know Football Bro.
The guy was every where defence, midfield, attack fighting and winning most 50 / 50 balls.
Kudos to their Goal Keeper also
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Re: Gambling on Ziyech pays off for Morocco

Post by mate »

It's hard to evaluate Ziyech. I watch Chelsea because I follow Kovacic there. Honestly, Ziyech is fine but not a top striker. I might be wrong, but rate him along Pulisic...not Lewandowski, Mbappe, or even a Kane.

Sometimes players do better for NT at the WC. I've always attributed that to cultural factors. For example, James of Colombia lit up a WC but failed in European football...emphasis on European, because I think he would shine playing in a South American setting.

We will see how this pans out longer term. Both for Ziyech...even for Morocco as a NT. Will the Atlas Lions build on this success and get even stronger?

I'm fascinated by Morocco and doing more reading. I'm trying to learn as much as possible why this Morocco is so good...finding roots in 2018 WC where they gave Spain and Portugal a tough time. I am comparing them to Croatia and Greece to see where they might be going.

Croatia capitalized on football success at WC 1998 with a 3rd place. Greece won Euro 2004 but has been poor ever since. Time will tell us what path Morocco takes and why.
Pax Americana...Wither Now?

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