Injury Concerns Cloud Morocco’s World Cup Quarterfinal Hopes Against Portugal

Some players may not play the match against Portugal due to injuries. Among them, Nayef Aguerd, injured in the hamstrings during the round of 16 and then replaced by Jawad El Yamiq or Romain Saïss who finished limping after feeling pain behind the thigh during extra time. "If I finished the match, it should be fine," he said to L’Équipe, bandage on his thigh. "We have to know how to sacrifice ourselves for the country. We’ll grit our teeth, we’ll grit our teeth again, we’ll be there in the quarter-finals," announced the Besiktas defender to FIFA.

Walid Regragui, however, expresses some uncertainties. "We always have uncertainties, but we will make the decision on the day of the match. We have a medical staff who are doing everything to get the players ready. Until now we have never lost a player before a match," he noted after the match against Spain. Nevertheless, he is showing a certain optimism and is counting on the substitutes to take on the next challenge.

Replacing the injured Nayef Aguerd against La Roja, Jawad El Yamiq told beIN Sports that the Atlas Lions coach "told us to let them have the ball, it was the best way to tire them out." A strategy that will certainly be implemented in the match against Portugal.