Even with all these wins, it’s striking how few goals Scotland’s opponents usually score. Yet with Diaz, Saibari and the left-sided midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, Morocco possess highly dynamic attackers.
And in Achraf Hakimi, they have arguably the top right-back in the game. Hakimi is their heartbeat. Born in Spain to a father who worked as a street vendor and a mother who was a cleaner, he has often said his upbringing shaped him.
French prosecutors have confirmed the Paris St-Germain defender will stand trial for rape. Hakimi denies the accusations.
On the pitch, Hakimi is exceptional—at his most potent when attacking—an explosive force down Morocco’s right, a Serie A champion with Inter, a Champions League standout with PSG, and a World Cup semi-finalist with his country four years ago.
Morocco’s squad is drawn widely from the diaspora. In the starting XI that drew with Brazil, the goalkeeper was born in Canada; two defenders were born in Spain; another in France; and another in the Netherlands.
Midfielder Neil El Aynaoui was born in France, Bouaddi and Saibari in Spain, and El Khannouss in Belgium. Across the rest of the squad, nine more players originated in Spain, Belgium, France and the Netherlands—yet they are unmistakably Moroccan at heart.
They present a ferocious challenge for Scotland—and an opportunity. Only a few of Clarke’s side hit their peak against Haiti, and none are shying away from that reality.
Scott McTominay was among those below his best. Maybe still feeling a stomach bug or the weight of expectation, the talisman didn’t quite look talismanic.
He ran himself ragged—after one round of games he ranked sixth overall for distance covered—but he couldn’t dictate as he can.
John McGinn was similar, despite his goal.
It didn’t matter then, but it will against Morocco. Scotland’s leaders have to show up.
Clarke is likely to drop a striker for an extra midfielder to meet Morocco’s energy and quality—aiming to stifle while still carrying a threat of their own. It can’t be backs-to-the-wall for 90 minutes.
Everything points to the toughest test of their international careers, but everything we know about this Scotland team says they’re ready for the fight. They go again.