Morocco’s national team suffered two important losses on the eve of the debut against Brazil at the World Cup, which takes place this Saturday (13), at 7pm (Brasília time). The Moroccan coach cut the defender Nayef Aguerd and striker Abde Ezzalzouli from the call list.
Aguerd was unable to recover from a groin injury that has been with him since March. The player was called up even with the injury confirmed, given his importance to the squad and the possibility of recovery during the tournament. The Olympique de Marseille athlete was part of the Morocco’s historic campaign at the 2022 World Cup and even played as a starter in part of the competition.
Yes Ezzalzouli, one of the stars of the squad alongside right-back Hakimi and right-winger Hakim Ziyechsuffered a right knee sprain during the team’s last friendly before the World Cup. The injury occurred on Sunday (7), in the match against Norway, in an unusual move in which the player collided with a partner from his own team.
The chosen substitutes were Marwane Saadanewhich operates through Al Fatehfrom Saudi Arabia, and Amine Sbai, player of Angersfrom France. Both players have already had experience with being called up to the national team, but both are considered inferior to the cut starters.
The team has injuries
Brazil also had to deal with a change in the cast before the premiere. In the friendly against Egypt, the right-back Wesley suffered a grade 3 injury to the adductor muscle in his left thigh and was cut from the draft. For the vacancy, coach Carlo Ancelotti called up midfielder Éderson, who plays for Atalanta and has already joined the squad in training in New Jersey, in the United States.
Another considerable case for the Seleção is that of star Neymar. With a similar situation to Ezzalzouli, Santos’ number ten suffered an injury in mid-May. The problem, treated as a calf edemawas later identified as a grade 2 injury, with partial rupture of muscle fibers in the region. After image tests carried out by the CBF, Ancelotti’s committee decided to call up the athlete, betting on a recovery period that guarantees the midfielder’s presence during the group stage, considering his absence precisely in the debut game, against the Moroccan team.
The most recent exams carried out by the CBF medical commission pointed out an evolution considered positive within the scheduled schedule, but the participation of the number 10 in the next matches it will still depend on the physical response in training.
Brazil and Morocco face each other in the first round of the World Cup on Saturday (13), at 7pm (Brasília time), in New Jersey. The match will mark the debut of both teams in the tournament.
