That should afford the Atlas Lions a softer Round of 16 draw, right? Well, how about a date with 2010 champions Spain, who finished second in Group E behind surprise winners Japan.
It’s an unlucky draw, but also presents an opportunity to shake up the tournament field as Morocco search for a statement upset. For Spain, they will hope to recover after a final-day capitulation to Japan that saw them drop to second in the standings.
Below are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams.
MORE: How to watch Morocco vs. Spain in World Cup action across the globe
Morocco vs. Spain lineups, team news
The Spanish media has attempted to stoke the fire around this match, with one outlet dubbing the Moroccan side “the UN team” to antagonize the African nation ahead of the Round of 16 match, poking fun at the host of different birthplaces of players on the Morocco roster. Most notably, star full-back Achraf Hakimi is Spanish-born, a major talking point ahead of this match.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui brushed off the criticism, declaring “we don’t care what the Spanish media is saying.”
“Talking about what a newspaper said does not fall within our interests, because we are Moroccans, with a valid Moroccan passport.”
Below are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at Education City Stadium on Tuesday, December 6.
Morocco starting 11
(4-3-3, right to left): 1. Yassine Bounou (GK) — 2. Achraf Hakimi, 6. Romain Saiss, 5. Naif Aguerd, 3. Noussair Mazraoui — 8. Azzedine Ounahi, 4. Sofiane Amrabat, 15. Selim Amallah — 7. Hakim Ziyech, 19. Youssef En-Nesyri, 17. Sofiane Boufal.
Injured: Walid Cheddira (personal). Suspended: None.
Morocco make one change from the team that topped Canada 2-1 in the final game of the group stage, Selim Amallah replacing Abdelhamid Sabiri in midfield. Sofiane Amrabat has been one of the best players at the World Cup, and he’ll continue in midfield for Morocco.
Amrabat is one of only two Moroccan players on a yellow card, alongside fellow midfielder Sabiri.
Spain starting 11
(4-3-3, right to left): 23. Unai Simon (GK) — 6. Marcos Llorente, 16. Rodri, 24. Aymeric Laporte, 18. Jordi Alba — 9. Gavi, 5. Sergio Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Ferran Torres, 10. Marco Asensio, 21. Dani Olmo.
Injured: Cesar Azpilicueta (calf). Suspended: None.
The biggest injury Spain are dealing with is to Cesar Azpilicueta who has reportedly aggravated a calf injury he suffered earlier in the year and trained on his own before this match.
Head coach Luis Enrique reverted to the side that drew with Germany on matchday two with one exception, Marcos Llorente preferred to Dani Carvajal at rightback.
Morocco vs. Spain World Cup squads
Here are the 26 names on the current Morocco and Spain World Cup squads in Qatar:
*Caps as of start of Qatar tournament
