World Cup 2026: The formidable 'Atlas Lions'

Moroccan players celebrate their victory after a match. Photo: AFP/VNA

According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in North Africa, besides Argentina, Coach Scaloni also highly rated the national teams of Spain, France, Portugal, England, Croatia, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and especially Morocco in the race for the world championship. Coach Scaloni's comments reflect the increasingly high position of Moroccan football on the international stage. Since their historic achievement of reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Morocco has affirmed its position as one of the strongest national teams outside of Europe and South America.

According to coach Scaloni, Morocco's inclusion as a title contender is not a coincidence but the result of years of sustainable development, from youth training and football infrastructure development to the ability to compete on equal footing with top teams worldwide. However, the 48-year-old strategist also emphasized that talent and squad strength alone are not enough to guarantee success at the World Cup. He said: "The World Cup is not just about playing well or having a strong team. Many things need to go smoothly throughout the tournament for success to be achieved."

Coach Scaloni cited Argentina's own journey to winning the 2022 World Cup as an example. The South American team caused a shock by losing to Saudi Arabia in their opening match, had to overcome the Netherlands after a tense penalty shootout in the quarter-finals, and faced immense difficulties against France in the final despite leading 2-0. He recalled: "We went through many obstacles and were in danger of being eliminated many times. That shows how difficult it is to win the World Cup." The Argentina coach believes that small details, fighting spirit, and sometimes even luck can determine the success or failure of any team, even the strongest contenders.

Coach Scaloni's praise came just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup. For Morocco, this is seen as recognition from one of the most successful coaches in world football today, and also as a growing sign of respect the North African team is receiving on the international stage. After their miraculous performance in Qatar in 2022, Morocco is aiming to further solidify its position and prove that its past success was not a fleeting phenomenon but the result of a long-term development of its football.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/the-thao/world-cup-2026-nhung-chu-su-tu-atlas-dang-gom-qXqiudbvR.html