The second half of the World Cup match between Morocco and Croatia (0-0) had almost started without Sofyan Amrabat. The Fiorentina midfielder reveals in conversation with ESPN why he was late from the locker room. “I lost my shin guards”, laughs the ball grabber of the Moroccan team.
Amrabat already read a lot of funny suggestions on the internet about why he would have been late, he says. “But my groin was a bit bothering me. I was being treated by physio and that’s why I took off my shin guards. Someone had put a towel over them, so I lost them. Everyone was already outside. I search and search.. Finally, the physio gave me the shin guards.”
There was no panic at Amrabat. “No, no, I stayed calm. I didn’t realize that the players were already on the field. I later heard from our captain that the referee said: ‘If he doesn’t come now, we will start.’ Otherwise I would have just gone without shin guards.”
Morocco opened its World Cup with a goalless draw. “I think you can be reasonably satisfied with that,” says the former Feyenoord player. “Croatia finished second last World Cup, I think that says enough. Today we defended well. We were good, compact. It was difficult for them to get through. I think we had it better in the counter at times could have played, could have made better choices.”
Amrabat itself made an excellent impression and received critical acclaim. Ali Bousaboun and Dries Boussatta, who on behalf Football zone watched, gave him an 8.5 and 8 respectively. “I’m quite happy with my game,” says Amrabat. “Of course it can always be better. Today I was sloppy on the ball three or four times. Of course I don’t want that. I prefer to play a perfect game. But all in all I can be reasonably satisfied. At my place it is of course the The most important thing is that you let the team play better and keep the balance. That went well.”