Clark: Morocco is a candidate to reach the semifinals.

Steve Clarke, the coach of the Scottish national football team, praised the level displayed by the Moroccan team during the match that brought the two sides together yesterday, Friday, in the second round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, considering that the "Atlas Lions" possess the qualities that allow them to go far in the global competition.

Clarke stated, in remarks following Scotland's 1-0 loss to the Moroccan team, that the national team includes a group of distinguished players capable of making a difference in major matches, adding: "I see this Moroccan team as capable of going far in the tournament, and I believe it has the necessary potential to reach at least the semifinals."

The Scottish coach admitted that his team struggled significantly against the speed and attacking solutions displayed by the Moroccan players, especially during the early minutes of the match, which saw Ismail Sabiri score the winning goal just 70 seconds in, following a precise pass from Ibrahim Diaz.

The same coach added that his players needed a long time to get into the rhythm of the match after Morocco's strong start, confirming that the Scottish team gradually regained its balance and delivered a better second half, but failed to capitalize on the opportunities that came their way to equalize.

Despite the bitterness of the defeat, Clarke praised his players' reaction during the second half of the match, affirming that they showed strong character and tried to come back until the last moments. He said: "Everyone feels frustrated and disappointed because we wanted to continue in this tournament for as long as possible, but now we need to regain our energy and think about the next match."

Clarke's statement reinforces the positive impression left by the Moroccan team in the 2026 World Cup, after starting their journey with a draw against Brazil before achieving a valuable victory over Scotland, enhancing their chances of advancing to the next round and continuing the remarkable path they began in the Qatar 2022 World Cup when they reached the semifinals for the first time in the history of African and Arab teams.