Live

Repeat: OTB AM

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Repeat: OTB AM
Advertisement

Sport

Morocco will be a challenge for Portugal - Gavin Cooney

Morocco will be a problem for any team that they face at the World Cup.



Irish journalist Gavin Cooney joined Joe Molloy on The Football Show to discuss Morocco.

Spain faced a familiar fate today when they lost to Morocco.

It was a resolute performance from the African side as they held out for 120 minutes before winning on penalties. Spain passed the ball over 1,000 times, but didn't have a shot on target until an hour into the game. Morocco were disciplined and structured in how they defended. Spain had no cutting edge.

Portugal definitely had a cutting edge in their game against Switzerland. The starting side without Cristiano Ronaldo scored six goals en route to a 6-1 victory.

But Gavin Cooney doesn't think Portugal will have it so easy against Morocco. Morocco didn't just upset Spain in this tournament. They were outstanding in the group stage as well. They have proven to be impossible to break down, which will make them a difficult opponent for anyone they face.

"Morocco are an absolute nightmare to play against," Cooney said.

"Not only do they not give up any goals, they hardly give up any chances. I think they conceded five shots on target in the whole of the group stage, across all three games. And I think Spain had three tonight...they didn't have any until the hour mark.

"They're just superbly well organized.

"If you remember Jose Mourinho's last great triumph in his mind, it was probably the 2010 Inter Milan team that knocked out Pep's Barcelona. And he talked about not parking the bus but parking an airplane. Because he also denied space down the wings.

"That's kind of what Morocco did today.

"You have Hakim Ziyech, who is no one's idea of a workhorse, he was so well disciplined doubling up with Hakimi whenever Spain tried to attack down that side...they're so difficult to play through, they're so difficult to create chances against."

Arsene Wenger chooses to be ignorant - Philippe Auclair

 

Football on Off The Ball brought to you by Sky. All the football you love in one place across Sky Sports, BT Sport & Premier Sports.

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Hakim Ziyech Morocco Spain World Cup

Live: Title

Description

Added to queue
Removed from queue

On Air

Share

Share

Next up in queue

Title
Description
Duration

There are currently no podcasts in the queue

Go to podcasts

On Air

Repeat: OTB AM

Repeat: OTB AM

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Share

Up next

Highlights on Off The Ball

Highlights on Off The Ball

12:00 PM-01:00 PM

Share

OTB Gold

OTB Gold

01:00 PM-02:00 PM

Share

LIVE: The Snap - American Football

LIVE: The Snap - American Football

02:00 PM-03:00 PM

Share

Highlights on Off The Ball

Highlights on Off The Ball

03:00 PM-06:00 PM

Share

OTB Gold

OTB Gold

06:00 PM-07:00 PM

Share

LIVE: Newsround

LIVE: Newsround

07:00 PM-07:30 PM

Share

LIVE: John Giles

LIVE: John Giles

07:30 PM-08:00 PM

Share

LIVE: Off The Ball

LIVE: Off The Ball

08:00 PM-09:00 PM

Share

LIVE: The Football Show

LIVE: The Football Show

09:00 PM-10:00 PM

Share

Repeat: Off The Ball

Repeat: Off The Ball

10:00 PM-12:00 AM

Share

Repeat: OTB AM

Repeat: OTB AM

12:00 AM-02:00 AM

Share

Repeat: Off The Ball

Repeat: Off The Ball

02:00 AM-05:00 AM

Share

Repeat: OTB AM

Repeat: OTB AM

05:00 AM-07:00 AM

Share

OTB's Crappy Quiz

OTB's Crappy Quiz

07:00 AM-07:30 AM

Share

LIVE: OTB AM

LIVE: OTB AM

07:30 AM-10:00 AM

Share

Repeat: OTB AM

Repeat: OTB AM

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Share

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

Share on