RABAT / Anadolu

Former Moroccan international player Abdelouahed Chemmami to Anadolu:

- The cards are largely on the table for both Morocco and France, and chances seem close.

- The first strength of the Moroccan team is the squad it possesses, in addition to its good reading of matches and the variety of its playing style within a match.

- Also among the key strengths are quick transitions, the quality of players, and not being tied to positions.

Moroccan and Arab fans are awaiting Thursday's match between the Moroccan and French teams in the World Cup quarter-finals, as one hopes to eliminate the other and advance to the semi-finals.

In an interview with Anadolu, former Moroccan international Abdelouahed Chemmami said: 'The opportunities and chances for both Morocco and France are ample, but given the strength and performance shown by the Moroccan team in the group stage and round of 16, it has proven that it is a strong candidate to win the tournament.'

He added that his country's team 'has full potential to compete with any team, regardless of its type or level.'

Chemmami continued: 'When you size up the opponent correctly and read them successfully, you realize that the French team, frankly, is full of big stars with high technical value, and it is a strong team as a group.'

The Moroccan team qualified last Saturday evening for the World Cup quarter-finals for the second time in its history, after defeating its Canadian counterpart 3-0 in the round of 16 of the tournament.

Morocco meets its French counterpart on Thursday, after their match in the semi-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Morocco's strengths

According to Chemmami, Morocco's strength lies in 'reading opponents; it dealt with previous matches, especially against Brazil and the Netherlands, differently.'

He points out that 'there are four teams candidates to win the title: Spain, Argentina, France, and Morocco.'

He believes that 'the Moroccan team is now capable of winning the title, and that would no longer be a surprise.'

Chemmami notes that 'the first strengths of the Moroccan team are the squad it possesses, in addition to its good reading of matches and the variety of its playing style within a single match.'

He explains that his country's team 'does not play in only one way, and tries to adapt to different teams and scenarios.'

According to the Moroccan analyst, 'reading opponents is done well and correctly by the technical staff, which gives the team a clear advantage.'

He also points out that 'among the key strengths are quick transitions, the quality of players, freedom of movement, and not being bound by positions.'

According to the sports analyst, 'player Achraf Hakimi can start as a right-back, then move into midfield during the match, and other players can change their roles between attack and playmaking according to the match requirements.'

Moroccans have a great ambition to win this tournament, after the historic performance of their team in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when it became the first Arab and African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals, before finishing the tournament in fourth place.

The French team

Chemmami says that although 'the French team is one of the top candidates to win the World Cup, the Moroccan team has all the capabilities and means, and players capable of delivering great performances.'

He points out that the French team 'has players with great speed, especially Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise.'

Chemmami explains that 'the French midfield includes players with great experience and a high ability to control the pace of matches.'

He notes that 'the cards are largely on the table for both sides, and chances seem close between them.'

Chemmami indicates that the Moroccan team 'will be able to control itself, dominate the course of the match, have better ball possession, and will be the favorite to qualify for the semi-finals.'

He continues: 'Sometimes technical level alone may not be enough, but when you have fighting spirit and ambition, and play for the value of the homeland, you can overcome any opponent.'

Secrets of Morocco's success

Chemmami considers that 'coach Mohamed Ouhbi played a big role in the brilliance achieved by the Moroccan team and in the distinguished level it showed.'

He notes that the reason 'is mainly due to good reading of matches.'

Chemmami praises the work of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which provided all suitable conditions.

He also praises 'the role played by former national team coach Walid Regragui, especially during the 2022 World Cup.'

He highlighted 'the importance of the plan adopted by coach Mohamed Ouhbi, as he provides new solutions, thanks to his great ability to read matches and analyze opponents.'

He adds that 'thanks to clear vision, continuous work, and wisdom in planning, the Moroccan team continues its march towards establishing its position among the major international teams.'

Last June, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced that the Moroccan team rose to sixth place globally in the latest ranking, for the first time in its history.

Abdelouahed Chemmami (58 years old) is one of the most prominent players of the Royal Army team; he previously won many titles with it, in addition to his experience with the Moroccan national team.