Spain vs Morocco: Who will progress, maybe Moroc-can?
Spain face Morocco in the penultimate last 16 clash at the Education City Stadium on 6 December.
The Spanish finished second in Group E, while Morocco trumped Croatia and Belgium to finish first in theirs.
Qualification almost looked doubtful at one point, Luis Enrique’s side failing to hang on to a one-goal lead against Japan. Alvaro Morata’s opening goal meant very little against Hajime Moriyasu’s line-up.
While there was much controversy surrounding Kaoru Mitoma keeping the ball in play leading up to the winning goal, the Japanese clinched victory 2-1 in their final group game.
The loss meant that Spain dropped to second in their group, with Germany going ahead on goal difference.
Morocco claimed a surprise first-place finish in Group F with seven points from the nine on offer, becoming one of only two African teams in the World Cup knockout stages.
Starting with a goalless draw against Croatia, Walid Regragui’s men gained successive points against Belgium and Canada to take top spot.
In their clash against Canada in the last stages of Group F, after Hakim Ziyech chipped the ball over keeper Milan Borjan from distance in the fourth minute. Youssef En-Nesyri added an extra, while an own-goal from Nayef Aguerd gave the Canadians a consolation ending the match 2-1.
On an eight-game unbeaten run, this could be the first Morocco side to reach a World Cup quarter-finals.
Spain and Morocco face each other four years on from meeting in the group stage in Russia, that fixture resulting in a 2-2 draw.
For Spain, Dani Olmo, David Raya, and Cesar Azpilicueta are not expected to start, but Enrique will most likely hand Nico Williams and Alejandro Balde a start. Ferran Torres and Jordi Alba are expected to return.
Regragui is expected to keep an unchanged team, with Yassine Bounou continuing to miss out after feeling unwell before the Belgium win.
While Morocco will be no pushover, there is an extensive list of attacking options on the Spanish bench.
Morocco will need to pull out all the stops on this one if they aim to topple the Spanish.
