British BulletinBritish Bulletin
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Tech & Science
  • Travel
  • Spotlight
  • More
    • Press Release
What's On

Tetraplegic veteran set to take on 79-mile Scottish coast challenge to raise money for charity

19 August 2026

‘How on Earth is this better?!’

19 August 2026

Record 1.3 million foreign nationals now receiving benefits

19 August 2026

Bafta-nominated British director behind Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy dies aged 86

19 August 2026

Yellow thunderstorm warnings issued for parts of UK by Met Office | UK News

19 August 2026
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Web Stories
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
British Bulletin
Subscribe
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Tech & Science
  • Travel
  • Spotlight
  • More
    • Press Release
British BulletinBritish Bulletin
Home ยป World Cup 2026: Scotland’s totems must turn up to thwart dynamic Morocco
Sports

World Cup 2026: Scotland’s totems must turn up to thwart dynamic Morocco

By britishbulletin.com19 June 20263 Mins Read
World Cup 2026: Scotland’s totems must turn up to thwart dynamic Morocco
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Despite winning all of these games, Scotland’s opponents don’t tend to score many goals, which is a surprise. In Diaz and Saibari and the left-sided midfielder, Bilal El Khannouss, they have hugely dynamic attackers.

And, in Achraf Hakimi, they have one of the best right-backs in the world, if not the absolute best. Hakimi is the heart of it. Born in Spain to a street vendor father and a mother who was a cleaner, he has spoken often about how his upbringing shaped him.

In February, the Paris St-Germain defender said he is set to face trial after an allegation of rape was made against him. Hakimi vehemently denies all charges.

Hakimi is a magnificent footballer, at his best when going forward, an explosive force down the right for Morocco, a Serie A winner with Inter, twice a Champions League winner with PSG, a World Cup semi-finalist with his country four years ago.

Morocco are a team drawn from the diaspora. Of the starting line-up that drew with Brazil, their goalkeeper was born in Canada, two of their defenders hail from Spain, another from France and another from the Netherlands.

Neil El Aynaoui, the midfielder, was born in France, Bouaddi and Saibari in Spain, El Khannouss in Belgium. In the rest of the squad there are another nine players who originated in Spain, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Clearly, though, they are Moroccan to the core of their beings.

They represent a ferocious test for Scotland – and also an opportunity. Only a handful of Clarke’s team produced their best stuff against Haiti and none of them are hiding from that.

Scott McTominay was one of them. Maybe still feeling the impact of a tummy bug or, perhaps, weighed down a touch by the burden on his shoulders, the talisman was not all that talismanic.

He ran his heart out – with all nations having played one game, he ranked sixth overall in terms of kilometres covered – but he wasn’t the influence he can be. Nor was John McGinn, despite his goal.

It didn’t matter on the day, but it will matter against Morocco. Scotland’s totems need to turn up.

Clarke is likely to drop a striker and bring in an extra midfielder to cope with Morocco’s energy and class, to stifle while also retaining the capacity to strike out on their own. This can’t be backs-to-the-wall for 90 minutes.

Everything screams ‘the biggest test of their international lives’, but, also, everything we know about this Scotland team tells us that they are up for a fight. They go again.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Keep Reading

Rangers: Kosta Nedeljkovic joins on loan from Aston Villa

Football news: Thomas Frank, Ashley Young and more join Match of the Day as BBC launches four new Youtube shows

Fantasy Premier League: Five tips from last season’s FPL champion

Formula 1: Kimi Antonelli – the boy ‘born in a garage’ and made on the track

Premier League predictions: Phil McNulty previews new season

Premier League chief Richard Masters says Fifa self-destructed over World Cup plan

England vs Pakistan: A huge challenge, but Joe Root can finish captaincy story

Gianni Infantino: Fifa’s Kevin Lamour sacking ‘deeply troubling’ – Uefa executive Laura McAllister

Man found dead at Charlton Athletic football ground

Editors Picks

‘How on Earth is this better?!’

19 August 2026

Record 1.3 million foreign nationals now receiving benefits

19 August 2026

Bafta-nominated British director behind Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy dies aged 86

19 August 2026

Yellow thunderstorm warnings issued for parts of UK by Met Office | UK News

19 August 2026

Subscribe to News

Get the latest Brittan News and Updates directly to your inbox.

Latest News

Rangers: Kosta Nedeljkovic joins on loan from Aston Villa

19 August 2026

Chinese car brand Chery to launch major new UK facility within months

19 August 2026

Ed Davey blames Nigel Farage and Brexit for migrant crisis as Lib Dems back joining EU asylum scheme

19 August 2026
Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest TikTok Instagram
© 2026 British Bulletin. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.