France head coach Didier Deschamps believes Morocco have firmly established themselves among world football’s elite and expects the Atlas Lions to remain a major force after ending their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals to book a place in a third consecutive World Cup semi-final, but Deschamps was full of praise for the North African side after the match.
Deschamps praises Morocco’s quality
The French coach admitted Morocco’s tactical approach initially surprised his team, particularly their attacking structure.
“I was a little surprised by Morocco’s starting lineup,” Deschamps said. “But I tried to understand what they wanted to do, drawing our defenders out without a traditional striker and using pace on the wings.”
Deschamps said France’s composure in possession ultimately prevented Morocco from gaining momentum in attack.
“Once we had the ball and stayed disciplined, it didn’t allow them to be dangerous.”
Despite guiding France into the semi-finals, the 57-year-old was quick to acknowledge the quality of the Atlas Lions.
“I have a lot of respect for this Morocco team.”
‘Morocco will have a bright future’
Deschamps pointed to Morocco’s back-to-back deep World Cup runs as proof that they have become one of the strongest teams in international football.
“They reached the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, and now they’ve reached the World Cup quarter-finals again.
“That tells you they have very good players.”
The France boss also highlighted the youthful profile of Morocco’s squad, suggesting the team still has significant room for growth.
“It’s a young team. Many of their players have only 10 or 15 international caps, apart from Achraf Hakimi, who has more than 100.”
“That makes me believe Morocco will have a future with a smile.”
Although Morocco’s campaign ended in the last eight, Deschamps’ remarks underline the growing respect the Atlas Lions command on the international stage after another impressive World Cup run.
