Morocco star Saibari to miss World Cup quarterfinal vs. France

Morocco Star Saibari to Miss World Cup Quarterfinal vs. France

Morocco will be without star forward Ismael Saibari for their World Cup quarter-final clash against France on Thursday. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed the news on Wednesday, stating that while the rest of the squad is 100 percent fit, the game comes too soon for Saibari.

The attacking midfielder is struggling with a hamstring problem sustained during Morocco's 3-0 victory over Canada in the round of 16 last Saturday. Saibari was forced off the pitch in the first half of that match, with reports indicating he succumbed to the injury in the 21st minute. Despite earlier media reports suggesting the issue was a minor muscle strain, Ouahbi confirmed the player's absence, though the coach expressed hope that Saibari will not be ruled out for the remainder of the competition.

The loss is a blow to the Atlas Lions, as Saibari has been a standout performer in his debut World Cup. He scored in each of Morocco's three group games and converted the winning penalty in the shootout victory against the Netherlands in the round of 32. He has recorded three goals in the tournament, including a strike against Scotland on matchday two that came after 70 seconds — the fastest goal for Morocco in World Cup history and the second fastest ever for an African nation.

Saibari's international success coincides with a major career move; he recently joined Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven on a five-year deal. The transfer fee was reported as 50 million euros, or approximately $57 million, while other reports cited a value of $90 million AUD.

The matchup at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough serves as a potential revenge game for Morocco, who were eliminated 2-0 by France in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup. That run made Morocco the first African or Arab nation to reach the final four. Coach Ouahbi, who took over from Walid Regragui in March and watched the 2022 meeting as a fan on television, dismissed the idea that reaching the quarter-finals is already a success.

"We absolutely want to win the game tomorrow, so we will not listen to people who say it doesn't matter if we go out now,"

Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco Head Coach, via Jacaranda FM

To fill the void left by Saibari, Morocco may rely on Soufiane Rahimi. The Al Ain striker, who has 14 goals in 42 matches for the national team, came on for Saibari against Canada and scored the team's third goal. Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz, who has registered four assists in the tournament, also expressed confidence that the team can compete with the French.

France enters the match as the favorite, with Kylian Mbappe having already scored seven goals this summer. Other threats include Michael Olise, who has five assists, and 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, who has contributed four goals and two assists. The French side has conceded only twice so far in the tournament.

Morocco's defensive strategy will likely involve inviting pressure and utilizing quick counter-attacks. This will put a heavy burden on 35-year-old goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and defender Issa Diop, who is tasked with stifling Mbappe. Additionally, Chadi Riad is expected to return to the starting lineup in defense after missing the Canada game due to a small injury.

The winner of Thursday's encounter will advance to the World Cup semi-finals, while the other quarter-final sees Spain face off against Belgium.