Ismael Saibari scored his second objective of the World Cup 2026 after 71 seconds as Morocco turned the primary workforce to attain towards Scotland on the match in Boston on Friday.
PSV ahead Saibar latched on to Brahim Diaz’s lofted cross and struck from a good angle contained in the field, displaying once more why Bayern Munich are poised to signal the 25-year-old following his Twenty first-minute objective within the Atlas Lions’ opening 1-1 draw with Brazil.
“He appears a category participant,” former Scotland striker Ally McCoist informed ITV. “The end towards Brazil was deft however that was sheer energy. The end is totally ridiculous.”
World Cup 2026: Scotland ‘should regroup’ vs Morocco
McCoist stated defender Grant Hanley had misjudged Scotland’s offside lure to permit Saibari to attain.
“Only a poor determination from the centre-back,” rued McCoist. “He goes to step out and he goes on the improper time and leaves [Saibari] onside.”
Victory would assure Scotland a spot within the knockout stage following their 1-0 win over Haiti on matchday one.
“I wouldn’t have thought they’ll open up too early,” predicted McCoist. “They’ll preserve the identical strategy.
“They’ve simply bought to regroup, take form, get some possession of the ball and play their approach into the sport.”
World Cup 2026: Scotland confirmed workforce vs Morocco
Defender Scott McKenna was out with a calf damage for Scotland, who introduced in Kieran Tierney, Nathan Patterson and Ryan Christie.
Aaron Hickey, Ben Gannon-Doak and Lawrence Shankland made approach.
Scotland beginning XI: Angus Gunn, Andy Robertson, Grant Hanley, Kieran Tierney, Jack Hendry, Nathan Patterson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams
Scotland substitutes: Liam Kelly, Craig Gordon, Aaron Hickey, John Souttar, Dominic Hyam, Anthony Ralston, Scott McKenna, Tyler Fletcher, Kenny McLean, Lyndon Dykes, Ross Stewart, Ben Gannon-Doak, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland, Findlay Curtis
World Cup 2026: Morocco full line up vs Scotland
Morocco have been unchanged.
Morocco beginning XI: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui, Brahim Diaz
Morocco substitutes: Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Marwane Saadane, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Youssef Belammari, Redouane Halhal, Anass Salah Eddine, Sofyan Amrabat, Chemseddine Talbi, Samir El Moukabit, Gessime Yassine, Soufiane Rahimi, Amine Sbai, Ayoub El Kaabi, Ayoube Amaimouni
The place to observe Scotland vs Morocco: TV channel, stay on-line streams
Kick-off on Friday was at 23:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). Within the UK, stay protection is on ITV1.
Followers can stream the motion through ITV’s web site and ITVX app, which is on the market on an unlimited number of units for viewing on the go.
Scotland vs Morocco: World Cup 2026 stats
- These sides’ solely earlier encounter was through the group stage of the 1998 finals, Morocco successful 3-0 for his or her largest-ever World Cup victory
- Scotland have received eight of their final 11 aggressive matches (D1 L2) and 5 of their final six (L1), with their solely defeats coming house and away to Greece
- John McGinn has scored 21 objectives below supervisor Steve Clarke for Scotland, which is the joint-most objectives by a participant below a single Scotland supervisor together with Denis Legislation below Ian McColl (21 in 21 video games)
- The Tartan Military may win a couple of recreation and consecutive video games at a single main match for the primary time
- Clarke is main Scotland at a 3rd main match following EURO 2020 and EURO 2024, which is greater than some other head coach for the nationwide workforce
- Together with EURO appearances, Scotland have did not surpass the opening spherical in any of their 12 earlier makes an attempt at main competitions
- 9 of Morocco’s final 12 World Cup matches have come towards European groups, with no facet enjoying as many video games on the match towards European opposition for the reason that 2018 finals
- Morocco have misplaced one in all their final six World Cup group matches towards European opposition (W2 D3) – a 1-0 defeat towards Portugal in 2018
- They’re unbeaten of their final 5 group stage matches on the World Cup (W2 D3), which is the joint-best run by an African nation: Cameroon have been unbeaten in 5 between 1982 and 1990 and Senegal had 5 unbeaten group video games between 2002 and 2018
- Reigning African Footballer of the Yr Achraf Hakimi made extra tackles (26) than some other participant on the 2022 World Cup and recorded the second-most floor duels received (41)
- Midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi was France Beneath-21 captain till the midfielder’s change to Morocco was authorized in Might. Brahim Diaz, who top-scored at this yr’s Africa Cup of Nations with 5 objectives, was born in Spain
