In any case, the Spaniards are prepared for all eventualities in the Education City Stadium. “More than a year ago I told the players that they had to take at least 1,000 penalties at their clubs. You can’t train them with the national team,” said Enrique. “I don’t think a penalty shoot-out is a lottery.”
It is unclear whether the players have implemented the requirement. And the 1:2 against Japan? worked up. “There aren’t that many things to improve on, other than those minutes with the collapse. We analyzed that and learned from it,” assured defender Rodri. “We want to turn sadness into contentment,” said Pedri.
Preview of World Cup games on Tuesday
Tomorrow the last round of 16 games are on the program. While Cristiano Ronaldo wants to secure promotion with Portugal in the duel against Switzerland, Spain is the favorite in the match against the surprise team Morocco.
The defeat against Japan, who won the group ahead of Spain, could even turn out to be a stroke of luck for the Spaniards. Because the possible route to the final no longer leads the 2010 world champions via Brazil and Argentina, if they progress, the next opponent will be either Portugal or Switzerland. Either way: “It won’t be a walk in the park,” said Rodri. And before that, Morocco has to be defeated first anyway.
Morocco win would be ‘big surprise’
For the North Africans it is the first round of 16 at the World Cup in 36 years. “It’s the biggest game in our history. But I hope the biggest game will be the one after that,” said Regragui. The Moroccans drew attention to themselves with a convincing group victory ahead of World Cup runners-up Croatia and World Cup third-placed Belgium. But against Spain “a very difficult game against one of the best teams in the world, against one of the favourites,” said Regragui. Getting through would be a “big surprise”.
FIFA World Cup 2022, Round of 16
4 p.m., live on ORF1
Morocco – Spain
al-Rajjan, Education City Stadium, SR Rapallini (ARG)
Possible lineups:
Morocco: Bounou – Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui – Amrabat, Ounahi, Sabiri – Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
Spain: Simon – Azpilicueta, Rodri, Laporte, Alba – Gavi, Busquets, Pedri – F. Torres, Morata, Olmo
The round of 16 will be a special game for Achraf Hakimi. The 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain right-back was born in Madrid and even called up for a Spanish youth team as a teenager. But: “I had the feeling that it wasn’t the right place for me. I didn’t feel at home. It wasn’t anything special, I just lived the Arabic culture at home, as a Moroccan,” Hakimi told the Spanish newspaper “Marca”. His father worked as a street vendor in Madrid and his mother was a cleaning lady.
Spain must be ‘a little scared’
Hakimi made his breakthrough at Real Madrid but made the switch when he couldn’t get past Spain right-back Daniel Carvajal. The stations Dortmund, Inter Milan and PSG followed. Hakimi has already played against Spain, at the 2018 World Cup in Russia Morocco only conceded the 2-2 in injury time in the group phase.
“Four years of experience meant I came with a more mature mentality,” he said. Hakimi has known some of the Spanish players much longer and probably better than his own teammates. He still doesn’t want to swap. “Our team is more than a team, we are a family. Our generation is here to make history,” he said.
The sensation should now succeed against Spain. “We finished first in the group and I think we deserve a little respect. Spain know that, they must be a bit scared of us. Why can’t we surprise again?” Hakimi wondered, looking back on the 2-0 win against Belgium. The support from the Moroccan fans was also special in Qatar. It was incredible to see, added Hakimi, “how people are rooting for us. This energy gives us the strength to keep going and achieve great things.”