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WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN
Morocco
 You might not fancy Morocco's chances of making it through their first round group considering they face the might of Brazil and the ever-improving Norwegians. But don't you dare tell their confident coach that...
MOROCCO, England's first opponents in the King Hassan II International Cup today, will be rank outsiders at France 98, but they are utterly convinced that they can spring a surprise. "We don't fear anyone," said their French coach, Henri Michel. "We're a young team and we play for each. We are technically strong and will press our opponents."
The Moroccans couldn't face a harder first-round draw. Brazil, Scotland and Norway will all be formidable opponents, but Michel insists that a place in the second round is not beyond them. He insists: "Brazil will take first place in our group, but there is every chance that we can beat Norway to take second spot."
Morocco are one of Africa's strongest teams and they have a lot going for them. Until recently, they were the highest-placed African country in the FIFA world rankings. Michel is an experienced coach who has been to the World Cup before, with France in 1986 and Cameroon four years ago. And he can call on some useful players, too. They all play in Europe for top club sides and many were part of the Moroccan squad which competed at USA 94. Star man is Mustapha Hadji, the French-based creative midfielder who turned down a request to play for the French Under-21 side, preferring to represent the country of his birth. Up front, there is Salaheddine Bassir, a tricky forward who will cause problems for even the best defences. At the back, Noureddine Naybet is an accomplished sweeper who's perfectly capable of covering for the faults of his teammates.
Morocco cruised through their qualifying section to reach France, despite being drawn in the same group as a powerful Ghana team. However, their results since qualification have been inconsistent. They were beaten by South Africa in the quarter-finals at the African Nations Cup in Burkina Faso in February, prompting Michel to scour Europe for new recruits.
They will be up against it next month, but they will not be short of support from the locals. And if Brazil, Scotland and Norway underestimate the Moroccans, make no mistake, they will be punished.
THE GREATS
Mohammed Tomoumi
Aziz Bouderbala
STRANGE BUT TRUE
1. Morocco are known as the Atlas Lions
2. Their 4-0 defeat of Gabon in the France 98 qualifiers was abandoned after 55 minutes because of crowd trouble, but the result stood.
3. Their African Nations Cup qualifying match against Ethiopia was called off last year after 16 members of the Ethiopian squad vanished on their way to Morocco.
4. Morocco won the 1976 African Nations Cup in Ethiopia despite only drawing with Guinea in the final - they had a better overall record.
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WORLD CUP HISTORY
MOROCCO have only taken part in three previous World Cups. In 1970, as Africa's sole representatives, they were given little chance of progressing from a first-round group which contained West Germany, Peru and Bulgaria. They gave the Germans an enormous scare, taking an early lead before Uwe Seeler and Gerd Muller put the match beyond them.
Their best showing also came in Mexico, in 1986. They held England and Poland to goalless draws before beating Portugal, 3-1, to top the group and it needed a last minute free-kick from West Germany's Lothar Matthaus to knock them out at the next stage. Things didn't go so well in the USA four years ago, defeats to Holland, Belgium and Saudi Arabia bundling them out.
WORLD CUP
FINALS RECORD
Year Round reached
1930 Did not enter
1934 Did not enter
1938 Did not enter
1950 Did not enter
1954 Did not enter
1958 Did not enter
1962 Did not qualify
1966 Did not enter
1970 First round
1974 Did not qualify
1978 Did not qualify
1982 Did not qualify
1986 Second round
1990 Did not qualify
1994 First round
Games Played 10, Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 6
Goals For 7, Goals Against 13
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HOW THEY
QUALIFIED
MOROCCO had one of the easiest routes to France 98. They were drawn with Ghana in Group 5 of the African qualifying section. The Ghanaians are one of African football's strongest outfits but have a grim World Cup pedigree. Morocco got off to a great start, thrashing Sierra Leone and picking up a valuable away point in Ghana. Further away wins in Gabon and Sierra Leone as good as sealed Morocco's qualification. A home win over Ghana in August made them one of the first nations to qualify.
AFRICAN SECTION GROUP 5 (including scorers for Morocco)
09.11.96 Morocco-Sierra Leone 4-0 (Hababi, Raghib 2, Fertout)
12.01.97 Ghana-Morocco 2-2 (Bassir, Hadji)
06.04.97 Gabon-Morocco 0-4 (Bahja 2, Bassir 2)
26.04.97 Sierra Leone-Morocco 0-1(Bassir)
07.06.97 Morocco-Ghana 1-0 (Raghib)
17.08.97 Morocco-Gabon 2-0 (Naybet, Bahja)
P W D L F A Pts
*Morocco 6 5 1 0 14 2 16
Sierra Leone 5 2 1 2 4 6 7
Ghana 6 1 3 2 7 7 6
Gabon 5 0 1 4 1 11 1
*Morocco qualify for finals
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FRANCE 98 FIXTURES
Norway, June 10, Montpellier
Morocco open their campaign against the physical Scandinavians, but all eyes will be on the tournament's opening game at the Stade de France between Brazil and Scotland.
Brazil, June 16, Nantes
The toughest match of them all. Avoiding defeat by Ronaldo and Co. will be the name of this game.
Scotland, June 23, Saint-Etienne
The result could be academic by the time they kick off, but this game may well be the Moroccans' best chance of a victory.
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