Morocco 1998 World Cup Regret Before Scotland Clash

The former 54-year-old left-back has not digested the French episode. For him, Moroccan footballers were victims of a genuine conspiracy orchestrated by Brazil and Norway. The two nations allegedly agreed on the final score to qualify the Scandinavians and eliminate the Moroccans in the group stage. Despite this disappointment, the team was triumphantly welcomed upon its return. "The late Hassan II is the one who chose Benfica for my transfer," recalls the defender with 72 caps, emphasizing the close and benevolent ties that the late monarch maintained with the world of football.

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Drawing on his experience from the 1994 and 1998 editions, the veteran closely follows the evolution of the current squad. In an interview given to Al3omk, he urges Mohamed Ouahbi’s men not to underestimate Scotland in their confrontation Friday night. If the recent draw snatched against Brazil (1-1) proved the very high technical quality of captain Achraf Hakimi’s teammates, El Hadrioui reminds that modern football offers optimal infrastructure and financial advantages that demand consistent results.

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The player’s club career, having passed through FAR Rabat and Sporting Charleroi, nevertheless included its share of setbacks. He reveals having suffered a monumental fraud during his signing with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands: trapped by his own agent at the time in complicity with Dutch officials, he unknowingly signed a document depriving him of all his contractual rights. A betrayal followed by another hardship when certain FAR administrators categorically blocked his return home at the end of his European adventure.