U20 World Cup 2025

[JamDav1982]

This tournament is largely irrelevant.

It seems to be for a lot of them the best u20s that are not first team players or involved.

 

[Messi983]

@Total-Football Congrats, looks like you are doing something right.

I've seen that this was Morocco's first appearance at the U20 WC since 2005. In the meantime for two decades you didn't even qualify for the U20 AFCON (and consequently couldn't qualify for the WC either ofc) but you were the runners-up earlier this year.

Is there any story behind this success? I'm thinking about 4th place in the 2022 WC too here. Were there any bigger (financial) investment in youth football or infrastructure in Morocco over last 10-15 years or so that are paying dividends now? Maybe improvements in coaching from tactical perspective or just a change of mentality too?

Regragui looks a very good coach and getting the best out of his team. I know you had good players in the past (remember a legend Naybet playing for Deportivo La Coruna) but before 2022 never put it all together like this on international level (correct me if I'm wrong). Most players are playing a role in good and even elite (like Hakimi in PSG) clubs so can translate some of that experience to NT.

Didn't follow this tournament so can't say much about the U20 team but I see a lot of players are already playing in Ligue 1, Eredivisie or in Belgium and might get a move to even better clubs based on this tournament soon.

also, what are your expectations for a home WC 2030? Ofc a lot can happen in five years but looking at current squad you should still be in a very good shape. Yeah, likes of Amrabat and YEN will be a bit old but Hakimi at 31 should still be good and then you will have likes of El Khannouss, Ben Seghir, Akhomach and Abde in their mid-twenties. And younger ones like Talbi (never really watched him but heard good things about him) and Aznou could establish themselves too alongside some of the players from this U20 team.

 

[Total-Football]

@Messi983 will be back later today with a worthy answer

 

[khaled_a_d]

Regragui looks a very good coach and getting the best out of his team. I know you had good players in the past (remember a legend Naybet playing for Deportivo La Coruna) but before 2022 never put it all together like this on international level (correct me if I'm wrong). Most players are playing a role in good and even elite (like Hakimi in PSG) clubs so can translate some of that experience to NT.

He is a great coach, but expectations are increasing now considering the team under his disposal.

ACN will be on their home turf, and while their history in the tournament is shit (not a single SF appearance since 2004 when they lost the final, and iirc that is their only one in past 40+ years) anything but being a champion will likely be considered a disappointment, especially after underwhelming campaign in the last one.

The WC will come with another expectations too, but obviously not a semifinals for sure. But at least 2nd round appearance.

So, while he is undeniably a great coach, he will have to take the step from working as underdog, to being the favourite (in the continent at least) which not all coaches can do.

 

[Total-Football]

@Messi983

OK I will try to be concise a little bit.

First, extra-sportive factors. Morocco since the turn of the century is betting on soft power. Morocco is not an industrial, or naturally resourced country. The country has gone into this direction : be diplomatic, be influential, incite foreign capital, bet on soft power.

This stratgery, locally debated, has given some fruits. From a touristic point of view , Morocco is certainly heading to be a global destination. Diplomatically, Morocco is doing great, foreign capital is coming, now remains soft power.

So this is more or less the eagle-view point to why football holds a political importance. Hence the repetitive candidacy to host a world cup.

Culturally, nothing needs to be said. .. morocco is a football passionate country.

Now. Purely football. Why the success ?

Moroccan FA investment of resources as well as efficiency. The moroccan federation for example has an army of people specialized in obtaining young double nationals from all over the world (communication, enticement etc). The federation has invested big money on infrastructure for clubs. Biggest factor is the construction of an academy with state of the art facilities , specialized in developing talents while living there à la Masia. After graduation. These players are free to sign for whatever club (local or foreign). This academy has produced players that were instrumental in Qatar world cup as well as this U20 world cup.

Now.. another factor is rational coach selection. For senior team coaches now the pattern is this : 1 be moroccan 2 prove yourself with trophies 3 we will give you a chance. It worked not only with regragui (Qatar 2022) but with other coaches too , same pattern (think Skitioui during olympics).

We as locals already (from the pattern) can guess the next senior team coach.

This is more or less the gist as to why morocco is becoming a global force, and I suspect it will remain so for a while. Because there is also the snowball effect. Success will entice more double nationals in the future to represent morocco and yamal from what I read was really really close.

 

[JamDav1982]

Didnt watch any of it but see Barca are linked with Mamma from Morocco side.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Amazing achievement for Morocco!! Well done!! African football is rising fast.

 

[Maradona37]

I am looking forward to seeing what the African nations might do next summer, Morocco most of all. You'd imagine the heat will suit a lot of them too. I am especially interested in if Cape Verde will be a whipping boy or actually be a surprise package and bloody some noses.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

I am looking forward to seeing what the African nations might do next summer, Morocco most of all. You'd imagine the heat will suit a lot of them too. I am especially interested in if Cape Verde will be a whipping boy or actually be a surprise package and bloody some noses.

Morocco is tough to beat, thought they would win vs France in WC22 but think they were tired after portugal match

 

[Maradona37]

Morocco is tough to beat, thought they would win vs France in WC22 but think they were tired after portugal match

Like I say, I am interested to see Cape Verde. I also wanna see other unknowns/potential debutants, like Uzbekistan, Jordan and maybe the likes of Curacao from CONCACAF if they can get there.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Like I say, I am interested to see Cape Verde. I also wanna see other unknowns/potential debutants, like Uzbekistan, Jordan and maybe the likes of Curacao from CONCACAF if they can get there.

I dont follow these countries but think Morocco is by far the strongest african team. Your top3 fav for WC?

 

[Maradona37]

I dont follow these countries but think Morocco is by far the strongest african team. Your top3 fav for WC?

Morocco definitely are, and I don't follow those countries either, that's why it will be interesting to see if they can hold their own at the tournament.

Hmmm. Hard to say.

Probably Spain, Argentina (with the big advantage of it being in the Americas) and France. Think they're the main three. England probably would join them to make a four if they didn't have such experience of messing it up.

After that, some dark horses like Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, Morocco, Germany (weird to call Germany and Brazil a dark horse, but they're in a mediocre way right now), Colombia, Ecuador, Japan (easily the best Asian team), Norway who can all go to QFs or maybe even semis. However, the tournament tends to be won by a powerhouse nation. Hence, I believe the winner will be one of the first four, or Germany or Brazil if they can get their act together.

At this stage it's doubtful Italy will even be there - for the third consecutive time. They're not gonna get back Norway's goal difference, so they have to rely on Estonia getting something against Norway and Italy winning both their games (v Moldova and Norway). They're 99 percent in the playoff, which is a bit of a lottery.

It's just the way it tends to be - there's really good, solid teams, but the winner tends to be a football superpower.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Morocco definitely are, and I don't follow those countries either, that's why it will be interesting to see if they can hold their own at the tournament.

Hmmm. Hard to say.

Probably Spain, Argentina (with the big advantage of it being in the Americas) and France. Think they're the main three. England probably would join them to make a four if they didn't have such experience of messing it up.

After that, some dark horses like Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, Morocco, Germany (weird to call Germany and Brazil a dark horse, but they're in a mediocre way right now), Colombia, Ecuador, Japan (easily the best Asian team), Norway who can all go to QFs or maybe even semis. However, the tournament tends to be won by a powerhouse nation. Hence, I believe the winner will be one of the first four, or Germany or Brazil if they can get their act together.

At this stage it's doubtful Italy will even be there - for the third consecutive time. They're not gonna get back Norway's goal difference, so they have to rely on Estonia getting something against Norway and Italy winning both their games (v Moldova and Norway). They're 99 percent in the playoff, which is a bit of a lottery.

It's just the way it tends to be - there's really good, solid teams, but the winner tends to be a football superpower.

Dont say it's impossible but would really suprise me if Brazil wins WC, i think it will be over in R16, their defence and midfield look too average

Germany has the same problem, some good players, some average players, not even 50% from the peak Germany in 2014 with Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Klose

 

[Maradona37]

Dont say it's impossible but would really suprise me if Brazil wins WC, i think it will be over in R16, their defence and midfield look too average

Germany has the same problem, some good players, some average players, not even 50% from the peak Germany in 2014 with Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Klose

I agree on Brazil, but they're Brazil, so you can never fully write them off. However, it does seem their days as a major football superpower are waning. Now 24 years since they won the World Cup and other than Neymar they haven't really produced a player of all-time great level ability since the three Rs, Cafu, Bobby carlos and all them.

It does seem both those nations are in lulls. I believe the Europeanisation of football has hampered Brazil. Too many players are leaving Brazil too early in the last 20 years, and the more tactical style of football doesn't encourage the freedom and samba style the likes of Ronaldinho played with.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

I agree on Brazil, but they're Brazil, so you can never fully write them off. However, it does seem their days as a major football superpower are waning. Now 24 years since they won the World Cup and other than Neymar they haven't really produced a player of all-time great level ability since the three Rs, Cafu, Bobby carlos and all them.

It does seem both those nations are in lulls. I believe the Europeanisation of football has hampered Brazil. Too many players are leaving Brazil too early in the last 20 years, and the more tactical style of football doesn't encourage the freedom and samba style the likes of Ronaldinho played with.

Good points.

Anyways, needs to go off, didnt eat since a few hours and im tired as fuck. Will eat and do a power nap now! Then Gym. Need to do all stuff before Cl begins at 6.45 pm. !