The PSG and Bayern full-backs add quality and experience to Morocco's backline

On the road to Qatar 2022: Achraf and Mazraoui bring youth to Morocco's experienced defence

photo_camera AFP/KENZO TRIBOUILLARD - Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi

Morocco's defence has the highest market value of the four areas of the pitch of any team. The goalkeeping team is worth 18 million euros between the three goalkeepers, the midfield 65.70 million euros and the forwards 44.30 million euros. 

The backline of the Atlas Lions has players worth 99.40 million euros divided between the eight regulars in Walid Regragui's latest squad. 

In the last three friendlies they have not conceded a goal. Neither Paraguay, Chile nor Jamaica were able to score against Morocco and the last two conceded were against Qatar in a friendly where they were reduced to one player after Khafi was sent off. 

For Qatar, Regragui will once again rely on the players who qualified with Vahid Halilhodžić on the bench. 

Achraf Hakimi is Morocco's star player and a player called upon to lead the defence from right-back. The PSG player is a regular in the French team and will arrive at the World Cup with 20 games played between Ligue 1, the Champions League and the French Cup. Two goals and three assists have earned the young player a place on Morocco's flank for the first match against Croatia. 

Noussair Mazraoui is another outstanding defender for Morocco. Born in the Netherlands, he joined Bayern Munich this season for 20 million euros after a great career in the youth ranks at Ajax. 

Mazraoui will share a right-back role with Achraf, although Regragui has already tried out the player at left-back to move up the flank with his left foot, and he even has the qualities to play in the centre of midfield. He will arrive in Qatar with 18 games under his belt, five of which are in the Champions League, a competition that provides important experience. 

Romain Saïss is the great captain and the man in charge of defending the centre of Morocco's defence. At the age of 32, he joined Besiktas last summer from Wolverhampton. He has 65 caps to his name and has only made 11 appearances in the Turkish Super League, so he will be in peak physical condition. 

Achraf Dari is the new face in the centre of the Moroccan defence. At 23 years of age and with only four caps, the French Stade Brestois player made the leap to Europe after his first taste of Moroccan football with Wydad AC. His presence at the World Cup will come after just 12 league and cup appearances. 

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The rest of Morocco's defence is made up of centre-back Samy Mmaee, who left Belgium's youth ranks to compete for the North African side, where he has already made 10 appearances. 

He is currently playing for Hungarian club Ferencváros and comes to the World Cup with 20 appearances to his name, including five in the Champions League and six in the Europa League.

Badr Benoun is another 29-year-old veteran who has already played five games for Morocco in the central defensive position. He will not have to travel too far to play in the tournament because his club is since this season Qatar SC after a tour of several Moroccan teams such as Raja Casablanca or Wydad Fes. Moreover, he has only played six matches before the World Cup. 

Fahd Moufi is the right-back of Portuguese Portimonense. Despite being 26 years old, he has not yet played official minutes for Morocco. He arrives in Qatar with 12 games played between Portuguese league and cup. 

Jawad El Yamiq is a familiar face in the Spanish league. The Valladolid centre-back joined Ronaldo's side from Genoa after previous spells with Zaragoza, Perugia and Raja Casablanca, among others. He has only made seven appearances this season, although he has already made 18 for Morocco. 

Yahia Attiat-Allah has only been on international duty for a short time, just three games. He plays left-back for Wydad AC and will play in the World Cup with 14 games under his belt, three of them between the Champions League and the African Super Cup.

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