No team has scored more goals 2026 FIFA World Cup over France. No team had more attempts on target. There are no subjective statistics to confirm this, but the eye test suggests that no team has a more terrorizing attacking quartet than France. Kylian Mbappe. Ousmane Dembele. Michael Ollis. Doue the will. How did Morocco leave a relentless effort in the impending quarter-finals?
Morocco’s greatest weapon against France is…France. They would rely on three footballers shaped by the French system, each of whom had either worn the colors of France or aspired to do so.
At the heart of the defense is Issa Diop. At just 21 after moving to England, he repelled every attack against Manchester United. Jose Mourinho could not believe what he saw. “Congratulations to whoever found him. The kid is a monster!”
Diop was scouted by West Ham United after excelling for France at the 2016 U-21 Euros – the same tournament that also provided the first glimpse of Kylian Mbappe’s brilliance. He had suitors – none more ruthless than Senegal. The nation his father came from and was trained by his grandfather.
France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates with teammates during the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match between France and Sweden on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in East Rutherford, NJ near New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Diop was asked if suitors were interested in him. The answer was firm: “I will only play for France and no one else. I was born in France, I owe everything to France, so why play for another country? Even if I am not selected, I will never play for another country.”
Nine years later, another U-21 Euro. Gerald Baticle’s team, however, lacked the player he had appointed for the captaincy. Ayub Bouddi. Lille refused to give up their teenage selves. Asked about his allegiance, Bouddi said, “At the moment I’m in the French youth team. I feel good playing for France.”
Former Morocco coach Walid Regragui is on the verge of losing his temper ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship. Neil El Ainoui, the son of former world No. 14 tennis player Younes El Ainoui, has repeatedly delayed Morocco’s progress, reluctant to close any doors.
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“Neil has asked for some more time. But we have to make a decision. If he doesn’t, I will make the decision for him. We won’t wait much longer,” Regragui said, adding that he would close the Moroccan door on El Ainoui soon, should he not think about it.
Toulouse. Senlis. Nancy. Three French cities. Three footballers, who now stand in France’s way to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the third time in a row.
Loaded with runners
Morocco’s progress to the quarter-finals is a surprise. But their performance has been done a few times. Canada – 24 places behind – outplayed Morocco, created the better chances and, according to coach Jesse Marsh, deserved to win. Atlas Lions were also not convincing against Netherlands.
In fact, they would have lost that game without Diop’s 91st minute equaliser. But Diop’s influence extends beyond that goal. At 6’4″, he consistently wins aerial duels and is equally adept at ground tackles. Yet, defending is only one-dimensional aspect of a multi-dimensional player. Diop is the base of the Moroccan attacks. Against Brazil and Canada, he attempted more line breaks than anyone else on the team. He attempted 42 forward passes against Canada. His nearest competitor scored 21.
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Morocco have not outplayed brilliant teams in this tournament, but have outplayed them. Mohamed Ohabi’s men have covered 597.2 kilometers so far compared to their opponents’ 578.7. A delta of 3.7 km per game — enough to separate a winner from a loser at this level. In the center of their lungs are Neil El Aynaoui and Ayyub Bouaddi. Together, they have run 99.68 kilometers – one-sixth of the team’s total. That was the formula for their 2022 World Cup campaign and now they threaten to break the French team’s unblemished run in the quarter-finals.
Brazil was given a hard lesson in Moroccan industry. El Aynaoui and Bouaddi finished first and second for distance in that game. Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes were chasing shadows. Same script against Scotland. First and second, again. El Ainoui’s stamina puts pressure on the opposition, while Bouaddi exploits it with his intelligent positional awareness. Against Canada, he forced eight turnovers, stopping many of Marsh’s attacks in his prime.
At the back, an enforcer who is as good with his feet as he is with his head. Next to him, a runner who never stops running. Along with him, a teenage prodigy with an unusually sharp mind for someone his age, he solves midfield problems with the ease of differentiating polynomials. This is Moroccan Spine.