Speaking after the match, Mohamed Ouahbi said Morocco carried out much of its tactical plan but acknowledged the difficulty of competing against a team coached by Carlo Ancelotti.
The Group C meeting between the five-times winners and the Qatar 2022 semi-finalists – who became the first African nation to reach the last four – ended all square in front of a packed stadium.
“We did what we had planned, but I was facing Carlo Ancelotti, so it was not simple,” Ouahbi said.
The Moroccan coach added that his players entered the game determined to win and were disappointed not to leave with all three points.
“We wanted to win, and the players wanted to win. We felt that the match slipped away from us because we did not get the victory,” he said.
“We played a high-level match. We wanted to win, but that’s football. I felt the players were sad because they wanted the win. In the second half, the tempo dropped due to the heat. For the next game vs Scotland, we will look for the 3 points, Inshallah, as they play differently from Brazil.”
Morocco controlled large parts of the opening period and caused Brazil problems with its pressing, movement, and quick passing. Ouahbi also said the high temperatures affected his players during the match, forcing the technical staff to manage their physical condition.
He praised the substitutes for their contribution and noted that several members of the squad were playing in their first senior World Cup.
“The substitutes did well. The heat affected the players, and some of them are taking part in their first World Cup. It is not easy,” he explained.
Despite the missed opportunity to secure a victory, the draw gives Morocco a solid start against the strongest-ranked opponent in its group.
The Atlas Lions will play Scotland on June 19 at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. local time and 11 p.m. in Morocco.
