Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Day 7
Morocco vs. Portugal
The detail in the game is so important. The detail at international level even more so. The detail at a tournament is vital. Morocco were excellent but failed on the detail; both in attack and especially defensively.
In a buoyant but not always high-quality game Morocco represented themselves excellently. Maybe a performance created out of desperation, but whatever the motivation they played really well. Really well, except for the detail.
Portugal were poor. Their system of play was unclear and ineffective in the first half, modified to have a little more clarity in the second half as they adopted a more pragmatism to hold out an ever-improving Morocco. Portugal’s formation of 4-4-1+ Ronaldo was massively outplayed for intensity and intelligence in the first half and despite a change in their system of play they were outplayed in the second half. Their gifted early goal seemed to cause Portugal more problems than provide relief; the game plan seemed chaotic as they were unsure whether to continue to attempt to play forward or to defend the lead. They ended up doing neither. Well, they ended up doing neither very well.
Morocco tormented Portugal’s left side almost at will throughout the first half, and yet never was anything tactical done to address the issues. Morocco’s domination of possession was somewhat unexpected but the evidence on the field was that they were good value for a lead, or at least should have been. The only discrepancy was that the wrong team was winning.
At least in the second half Portugal played a 4-5-1 formation out of possession that offered a little more midfield help to the left side of the defense. The change of Portugal’s defensive formation and the continuation of Morocco’s dominance created an attack versus defense feel to the game that was not expected. Portugal were nervous to see if their defense could hold out while always knowing that Ronaldo on the counter attack is a ubiquitous threat. But the trend of the game continued; infrequent moments forward for Portugal and the much better football from a forward flowing Morocco.
Diminishing time and increasing desperation continued to drive Morocco forward through their perfectly respectable build-up play; and success was ever more effective through a pressing game that was energetic and organized when Portugal did try to play some football.
The fragile balance between the teams continued for the full duration of the game, the mouse consistently toying with the cat. At the final whistle the scenes suggested that a structured defensive performance brought Portugal home after a well deserved early goal. The truth is nothing like this. Morocco were better. Morocco should have won. But didn’t. The details.
Morocco’s defending at a set-piece corner kick was irresponsible. It’s inconceivable that Ronaldo wouldn’t be marked with integrity throughout the passage of play. He wasn’t. That is the detail. In attack, Morocco’s structure married well with creativity, but for all the dominance the finish was never executed. That is the detail.
Morocco have more chance of winning this World Cup than Portugal. And that should have been the case after this game.
By Jonny Carter - Chicago Fire
