Morocco’s hopes depend on Diaz regaining his sparkle against the Netherlands

Moroccans are pinning their hopes on Real Madrid’s Spanish star Ibrahim Diaz regaining his brilliance in time and helping the Atlas Lions overcome the Dutch Windmills obstacle on Monday in the Mexican city of Monterrey in the round of 32 of the North American Football World Cup, so that they can continue their dream of repeating the achievement of the 2022 edition.

Diaz, who established himself as a star in the African Cup of Nations at the beginning of this year by being chosen as the best player and top scorer in the competition (5), remained without scoring, contenting himself with two decisive passes.

His performance was dominated by many technical errors, such as excessive dribbling and not making the correct decision when passing to his teammates or shooting.

After he received the encouragement and admiration of the Moroccan fans after dedicating himself as a champion in the nations of Africa, despite missing a penalty kick in stoppage time, which caused the complete chaos witnessed in the final match against Senegal, he found himself in the target of criticism.
Former international midfielder Younes Belhanda attacked him, describing his performance in the first three matches as “disappointing.”

He added in statements to local media that the reason for Diaz’s mediocre performance was “due to his attempt to make a difference on the field alone, and to be the star without relying on his teammates, which harmed the team.”

He continued, “In some moments, he could have passed more quickly or made the second pass or the decisive pass, but instead, he slows down the game and tries to dribble, and this is what bothers me.”

Diaz was criticized in the last match against Haiti, because he missed a number of easy balls, in addition to causing the second goal after letting Sunderland’s English striker Wilson Isidore control the ball without any resistance, and he shot it powerfully past goalkeeper Yacine Bounou.

Belhanda wondered about Dias’s way of thinking on the field, saying, “I think he is not completely on the right path, and I wonder if he wants to be the savior of the team, or is he just trying to shine and show his level?”

The criticism reached its peak when, after the Haiti match, a journalist asked Coach Wehbe whether he was thinking of warning the Royal Club star, but the Atlas Lions coach strongly defended his player, saying, “We must not forget that Ibrahim was the top scorer in the African Cup of Nations and the best player in it, and he plays for Real Madrid.” He is a very big player and will give us a lot.”

He added, “We expect more from him because he is one of the best players.” God willing, with the confidence that we will give him, his performance will improve so that he will be effective in the next match and help us achieve qualification.”

The impact of the coach’s speech on Diaz appeared in training sessions, where he appears every day with enthusiasm and a wide smile, and it is certain that he is waiting for the opportunity on Monday to silence his critics.

Some technical analysts attributed Diaz’s fluctuating performance to the fact that he is playing under great pressure and seeks to do everything without thinking about the method, with the aim of reconciling with the Moroccan fans following the disappointment of his missing a penalty kick in the final of the continental competition.

“I feel at home,” Diaz said last January. I feel very comfortable, and I know that people love me. I always want to give my best for Morocco, because without them I would not be here. “I am very happy to represent my country.”

Will facing the Netherlands be a milestone in Diaz’s career with the Atlas Lions at the World Cup, as he is considered the player with the most titles in their ranks (11), most notably the English (1), Spanish (2), and Italian (1) leagues, the European Champions League, the European Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup.