International Friendly: Morocco vs Brazil: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head

All eyes will be on Stade Ibn Batouta when the World Cup semi-finalist and Canarinho square off against each other in a friendly international.

Morocco performed above expectations at the World Cup, with the team making it to the semis, and they are indeed capable of making life difficult for the Selecao. Since key players Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Sofyan Amrabat made the cut, we predict the hosts will grab something from the match.

Brazil, on the other hand, are without injured ace Neymar, who is out for the rest of the season. Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has been omitted despite recovering from his injury, and, as a result, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior will be the man to watch in the South American team. His teammate Rodrygo is widely expected to replace Neymar in the starting XI.

Kick-Off:

Saturday, 25-03-2023, 10:00 PM(GMT)

Sunday, 26-03-2023, 3:30 AM(IST)

Morocco Form(All Competitions): W-W-W-L-L

Brazil Form(All Competitions): W-W-L-W-L

Players to Watch Out

Hakim Ziyech (Morocco):

Even though Ziyech has done so much as a winger, his best position is still considered as a no.10. The Moroccan also played the false nine roles very well. Ziyech is not a typical winger but a player who loves to operate from wide spaces. Even as a central player, he is capable of dictating games like a traditional playmaker and that is what makes him special. 

Casemiro (Brazil):

He’s a high-quality defensive midfielder. One of his biggest strengths is his tackling ability. His main strengths are in his ability to break up play in the central areas, through both interceptions and individual duels and in screening his team’s central defenders. His performance in recent matches for his clubs has been good and he would like to continue this performance for the national team as well.

Match Facts:

Squad: Brazil

Goalkeepers: Ederson, Mycael, Weverton

Defenders: Arthur , Emerson Royal , Alex Telles , Renan Lodi, Ibanez , Eder Militao , Marquinhos, Robert Renan.

Midfielders: Casemiro, Andrey Santos, Andre, Joao Gomes, Lucas Paqueta, Raphael Veiga.

Forwards: Antony, Richarlison, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Rony, Vitor Roque.

Squad: Morocco

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bono, Munir, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd, Achraf Dari, Jawad El-Yamiq, Yahia Attiat-Allal, Badr Benoun.

Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilel El Khanouss, Yahya Jabrane

Forwards: Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Ez Abde, Amine Harit, Ilias Chair, Abderrazak Hamdallah, Walid Cheddira

Injury and Team News

Brazilian stars Marquinhos and Richarlison will join their teammate Neymar Jr. in missing their friendly game against Morocco due to injury.

Paris Saint-Germain center-back Marquinhos sustained an injury against Ligue 1 side FC Nantes which places him on the sideline for the international friendly on March 25. Juventus defender Gleison Bremer will replace him in the squad.

The Moroccan camp does not have any major players missing from the squad and will look to give a tough challenge to the south Americans.

Head-to-Head stats

Matches - 1

Brazil - 1

Morocco - 0

Draw - 0

Predicted Lineups:

Morocco Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):

:Bounou, Mazraoui, Saiss, Aguerd, Hakimi, Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah, Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal.

Brazil Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):

Ederson, Lodi, Militao, Royal, Robert, Casemiro, Paqueta, Santos, Antony, Vinicius, Rodrygo

Prediction

Under Walid Regragui, Morocco reached the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after defeating both Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages and taking four points off Belgium and Croatia in the group stages. The Atlas Lions now face a Brazil side that is under new management, following the post-tournament sacking of Tite.

The Selecao are now led by Ramon Menezes on an interim basis. Alisson, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Fred, Fabinho, Bruno Guimaraes, Philippe Coutinho, Richarlison, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli and Roberto Firmino are out of the squad for a variety of reasons. In their home, Morocco can create a major upset.

Prediction: Morocco 1-0 Brazil