​FOXBOROUGH — Morocco made history in 2022 by becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals. Was that achievement a solitary milestone or the beginning of a sustained surge? On Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m., Morocco faces a formidable France lineup in the quarterfinals at Boston Stadium, aiming to secure a second semifinal berth in this tournament.
Star right back Achraf Hakimi has started all five of Morocco’s World Cup matches, despite facing a pending rape case dating back to an alleged incident in France in 2023. Hakimi, 27, vigorously denies the allegations, and with no trial date currently set, the Paris Saint-Germain defender said he remains hopeful for the proceedings, writing on social media on June 19 that he is looking forward to it. Given his expected role, Hakimi will likely line up in the starting XI against France.
The official Morocco lineup from manager Mohamed Ouahbi will be announced about an hour before kickoff, but here is a projected starting formation based on the team’s recent performances:
– Forwards: Ismael Saibari is listed at No. 11
– Midfielders: Bilal El Khannouss (No. 23), Azzedine Ounahi (No. 8), Brahim Díaz (No. 10), Neil El Aynaoui (No. 24), Ayyoub Bouaddi (No. 6)
– Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (No. 3), Chadi Riad (No. 18), Issa Diop (No. 14), Achraf Hakimi (No. 2)
– Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou (No. 1)
If you’re looking to catch the World Cup in English, Fox is the broadcaster with exclusive English-language rights, including Fox and Fox Sports One. You can also stream the matches with English commentary on services such as Fubo TV and Hulu + Live TV. Fubo offers a free trial if you want to test the waters before committing.
Recent World Cup results for Morocco in this campaign include:
– June 13: Morocco 1, Brazil 1 (Group C)
– June 19: Morocco 1, Scotland 0 (Group C)
– June 24: Morocco 4, Haiti 2 (Group C)
– June 29: Morocco 1, Netherlands 1 (3-2 on penalties in the Round of 16)
– July 4: Morocco 3, Canada 0 (Round of 16)
– July 9: Morocco vs. France (Quarterfinals)
This article originally appeared in The Patriot Ledger under the headline Is Achraf Hakimi playing today? Projected Morocco lineup vs. France for better SEO. This piece is focused on the potential lineup and the broader context surrounding Morocco’s pursuit of consecutive World Cup breakthroughs.