As Scotland prepare for their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, one of their group rivals has been dealt a significant injury setback just before the tournament begins.
Steve Clarke’s squad are set to kick off their first World Cup since France ’98 in the early hours of Sunday morning, when they face Haiti in Boston.
Following that, the Scots will meet their other Group C opponents, Morocco and Brazil, over the next ten days as they aim to progress beyond the group phase for the first time in their history.
To stand a chance of reaching the knockout rounds, Clarke’s men will need a strong start against Haiti, who are currently ranked 83rd by FIFA. A win there could set up a crucial fixture against Morocco later in the group stage.
The Moroccan side enter the competition as the seventh-ranked team in the world and recently lifted the AFCON trophy after Senegal were stripped of the title following a controversial final between the two nations in January.
One of Morocco’s standout performers during that AFCON campaign was Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli. However, in what could be a boost for Scotland, the forward is now a major doubt for the tournament, which kicks off this week.
Ezzalzouli was substituted at half-time during Morocco’s final warm-up match against Norway on Sunday after appearing to pick up a knee injury. Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui was also forced off during the same match with a partially dislocated shoulder.
While Mazraoui is expected to recover in time to feature in the tournament, the prognosis for Ezzalzouli appears far less encouraging for the Atlas Lions.
The 24-year-old winger was widely tipped to be one of the breakout stars of the competition following an exceptional season with Betis, where he scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists from the left flank.
“What worries me most is the injury to two of our players, Noussair Mazraoui and Abde Ezzalzouli. We are awaiting the results of their medical tests,” Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said after the 1-1 draw with Norway.
According to journalist Hanif Ben Berkane, Ezzalzouli has sustained a sprained internal knee ligament and is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks, effectively ruling him out for the entire tournament.
The Betis winger has also been linked with a transfer to Newcastle United as a potential replacement for Anthony Gordon, who recently joined Barcelona in a £70 million deal earlier this summer. Ezzalzouli, a former Barcelona academy graduate, registered 15 goals and 13 assists last season for the Spanish club.
Morocco will open their World Cup campaign against Brazil on Saturday evening at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey before concluding their group fixtures against Haiti on Wednesday, June 24.
