big rivalry game was looking at
mileage, wise is only a nautical miles between
Morocco and Spain
across the ocean there. So
a lot of shared history and rivalry between these two Nations
Morocco. Nick, you mentioned it before. Just one of the themes
of the tournament when the stories of the tournament
really their fan base has traveled on Master
Katara. It's almost like a home game for them. Every time they
roll up the Ash has been excellent. Akemi Roman soil.
Sighs
camera bat. So many good players throughout the team,
right? That just really stood tall,
but Spain again, a really weird tournament for them. Started
off with seven Elwyn cliches or say all they used all their
first
goals often the first game right for the entire tournament
and since then they struggled against Germany and Japan and
only finished second in their group, so only key sort of
battles here for you
and tactically, Morocco sit back, right? But then when they
get the ball, they're not afraid to pull forward as he
asked for.
Another. So yeah this is this is a really intriguing probably
the most intriguing tactical battle I'd say in the last 16
games. I think it's hilarious. That you look at the Midfield
of Spain and their average age is probably like everybody else
is average age, but
it's because Sergio busquets is in the middle of gavi and
Country and and into me the the hope for Morocco lies in having
a little bit of rest, having a little bit of time to get
those, because we mentioned the difference yesterday. What do
we talk
about depth, right? And I thought that was on display.
A today for Senegal as well in that in their game as well as
France. The depth is just so strong with Spain compared to
Morocco. So is Morocco going to be fresh enough? And then
the question is look, I know they've played for Barcelona.
I love
both of these kids that I hope they can be the Iniesta and
the Shah be moving forward for them. But at some point,
the inconsistency of Youth, you would bet on it, affecting
them, you would bet on it showing up for at least 15-20
minutes at
a time and I think,
That's a big part of Morocco's hope also
Luna Simone,
really, really liked him in this tournament and
I think he's been a difference and allowed them to play Road
re at the back, but I've just been kind of waiting to see if
it gets to him that he's filling the boots
of Iker Casillas and and David to hey and like Spain's
goalkeeper not having a huge name that you recognize is just
so mind-blowing.
Yeah, it's so true and they left a lot of big names at home
right throughout the W. So they've gone with you. They've
gotten through to the last 16 a few Growing Pains but
Andy with the key battles I'm looking at
I'll see you said to see Ash there. He got he flies forward,
he's been taking chances, he's been switching to play
the profound to the other and
it works really well for Morocco. They'll Starla play,
but amra bat. In this field, Nick mentioned the dead are two
young Lads, they're gonna have a tough game against him. He's
been rattling into challenges and he's sort of the spirit
animal of Morocco, right? He's firing up the crowd.
Had a great season with Fiorentina. He's been
The Premier League moves and probably is going to go to
a big team in Europe or notice Spectre Fiorentina but a bigger
team in Europe
in the January window. So that's an intriguing battle,
right? If Morocco can win that you'd feel bad or then they've
got the quality going for Words eh profile
and others to really hurt Spain.
Yeah. Can I give you a prediction that doesn't involve
the result or a score or anything? Yeah go ahead
Garvey and Petry both leave with ice somewhere on their
body because of just the akala T that is going to
arrive at their doorstep in this game, in the form of Omri
button and the rest of the Midfield as well. And to wave
it the way that Morocco defend as a unit they have, I mean
there again, this is another team well under 40% of
possession
but they know exactly who they are. They have
the very, very tough defensive midfielder. The very, very
tough Defenders that they can sit there and soak up pressure
time and time again. And they have so much speed outside on
the wings, whether it's at Wing or whether it's at,
Back. And that's what they're going to try to use. And we know,
we know Spain, very narrow, they're very good in the middle
of the field. I got a lot of questions about what they've
got out wide, the Winger's
going to be pushed back there on Torres.
You know, notoriously not much of a Defender, he's going to
find himself back with a real defensive shift to doing this
game, I think, and that's going to limit a little bit what
Spain or able to do going forward. So either they are,
they are in
for an incredibly tough battle
and if they're able to come out of this and that next Young
Generation of Spanish players will obviously SLI have earned
the right to call themselves that but they should, they will
be very, very proud. I think and have learned a great lesson
about the stylistic differences at a tournament like the World
Cup. Yeah. I'm just a bit worried about as public whether
and Jordi Alba or those are the two fullbacks against
the Morocco. Why players that
seems like a bit of a mismatch? But Nick quickly prediction for
this one, we going for the Morocco, Lots, but upset, or
you think Spain are
going to take care of business.
Upset, Morocco and penalties.
Yes. That's what I think as well. I'm going for a Morocco
Lotsa, Andy where you going for me,
not quite but game of the tournament for three, Spain it
has all it has all of the makings to just to make no
sense whatsoever to be
wide open back and forth. Because
once the first goal goes in and assuming that it comes from
Spain, Morocco after then open themselves up and that I think
it just lends itself to absolutely pure entertainment.
Pure chaos, we love that Morocco, Spain. All the details
over the pro soccer talk on, NBC sports.com, massive game.
Intriguing game in the last 16.
Well, I've had a watch-info preview team news analysis reaction
have all angles covered as Morocco, The Underdogs, but
they won their group and Spain. Just faltering a little bit
after that. Great start to the World Cup. So let's see a day.
Young talents would come flying back
and prove just how good they are
and get into the World Cup quarter-finals.