Morocco's friendly against Norway praised as World Cup preparation

Morocco's national football team is set to conclude its friendly matches with a highly anticipated game against Norway on Sunday. The "Lions of the Atlas" are using this match to gauge their preparedness for the 2026 World Cup.

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The choice of the Norwegian national team to play Morocco friendly was a correct decision; given the similarities that bring them together with the Scottish national team, one of the rivals of the Atlas Lions in the same group during the 2026 World Cup finals.

Experts have lauded the selection of Norway as a sparring partner, citing the Scandinavian team's style of play as a close simulation of Scotland's, one of Morocco's opponents in the global tournament. National coach and sports expert Mohamed Achiban highlighted the similarities between the Norwegian and Scottish teams, noting their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence since 1998 and their comparable FIFA rankings. Achiban pointed out that Norway, ranked 31st globally, and Scotland, 43rd, offer a "studied and rational" choice for a friendly.

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There are many common denominators between the Norwegian and Scottish national teams; including their return to the World Cup finals after a long absence of 28 years since the France 1998 edition, in addition to the proximity of their ranking on the world ranking ladder.

Beyond statistical parallels, Achiban observed similarities in playing styles, though tactical differences exist. He described Norway's typical 4-3-3 formation, sometimes shifting to 4-4-2, and Scotland's preference for 3-5-2, adaptable to 5-4-1. Norway often relies on striker Erling Haaland for offensive build-up, leveraging his physical strength and positioning. In contrast, Scotland emphasizes physical play, defensive solidity, and quick counter-attacks, utilizing their forwards' aerial and physical prowess.

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The Norwegian national team builds a significant part of its offensive performance by relying on its striker Erling Haaland, who is a key outlet in building attacks thanks to his physical strength, ability to hold the ball, and good positioning inside the penalty area.

Journalist and sports analyst Idris Amouri also views the Norway match as a crucial preparatory test for the Atlas Lions. He acknowledged Norway as a diligent and rising European team, comparable to Georgia's recent emergence. Amouri believes the game will provide head coach Walid Regragui valuable insights into tactical approaches, especially for facing Scotland. The primary objective, however, remains ensuring the team finishes the match without any injuries that could jeopardize their World Cup readiness.

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The match against Norway will give the national coach Mohamed Wahbi an important opportunity to extract a set of technical and tactical data before the start of the official competitions.