Morocco plays important opening match against Norway
Morocco-Norway, Sports, 6/10/1998

Morocco will play Norway this Wednesday evening in an important opening match of World cup group A.

The Moroccans will try to upset the odds, giving Norway, unbeaten at international level since January 1997, as favorite. Nowrway has had an enviable build-up with impressive recent victories over Denmark, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

Morocco's coach Henri Michel had been testing tactics to counter Norway's aerial and highly physical play.

In experienced sweeper and captain Nourreddine Naybet, Morocco has a superb center back more than capable of competing with Norway's athletic forward Tore-Andre Flo.

If Norway has Flo, Morocco is paced by striker Salaheddine Bassir, who scored twice against France during the recent Hassan II International Cup in Casablanca. The 26-year-old striker of Spanish club Deportivo Coruna is particularly dangerous on infiltrations and can score at any time from any angle. But Bassir will need help from fellow striker Abdeljalil Hadda (Camacho) who has proved to be a precious partner in the recent trial matches.

Naybet, who plays his football club with Deportivo Coruna of Spain, has recovered from a twisted ankle and will play, as will inspirational playmaker Moustafa Hadji.

Hadji has a broken toe but insisted he will play through the pain "to bring glory to Morocco."

There was little of that on display four years ago when Morocco lost all three first round games against Belgium, Saudi Arabia and Holland.

However, Michel, who led France to the semifinals in 1986, has revolutionized the team, adding what he described as "British-style discipline" to the abundant talent.

Michel is aware that the first match is vital. "We need a positive result,'' he said. "A win would be ideal but a draw would keep us in the hunt for second place."

While Norway's Egil Olsen already has his starting line-up fixed in his mind with a fully-fit squad, Michel preferred to keep his lineup secret.

After Wednesday's game, Norway squares off against Scotland at Bordeaux on Tuesday, June 16th, while Morocco plays defending champion Brazil at Nantes later that same day.

Back at home in Morocco, all the people, including the government, join together to encourage the Atlas Lions succeed a feast that will embellish a World Cup reputation tarnished by the poor performance in the 1994 U.S World Cup. (Map)

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