Morocco's Mid-Block Masterclass: Philosophy Meets Pragmatism in Perfect World Cup Storm
Morocco provided a mid-block masterclass in their round of sixteen win over Spain. But it wasn’t the first time the system has been used effectively at the Qatar World Cup.
South Korea secured a crucial point versus Uruguay by flooding the middle of the pitch and the USMNT utilised a similar approach in their draw with England.
Saudi Arabia also reverted to the tactic in the second half of their shock win over Argentina, with Hervé Renard’s squad offside trapping Lionel Messi into oblivion by holding an aggressively high defensive line.
While high-blocks are often the preferred option in club football, the third way’s revival at this World Cup was forecastable for three reasons:
It takes a well-planned pressing structure and lots of energy to implement a high press.
While there has been plenty of time since the draw for coaches and scouts to unpick how their opponents will attack, international squads don’t train often enough to master hyper-detailed plans for the press.
Tournament football is tiring, not least when events are held mid-season and in the aftermath of a pandemic.
Morocco’s mid-block prevailed as a result of those factors, but could their tactic carry them into the final four — and perhaps even beyond?
Explained: what is a mid-block?
Essentially, teams who play with a mid-block aim to create a defensive wall across the middle of the pitch. It is a defensive strategy that is designed to shutter passing lanes for the attacking team, denying them access to dangerous zones in the final third.
Midfielders and forwards are exceptionally important in mid-blocks because they are responsible for suffocating the centre of the pitch. If they fulfil their task effectively, it can become very difficult for opposition defenders to pass into midfield — a trend that featured prominently in England’s 0-0 draw with the USA.
Defenders also play a crucial role in mid-blocks, albeit as tactical foot soldiers rather than out-and-out ball-winners. Maintaining a high defensive line is their main job, which further restricts the space available for the attacking side to exploit.
Morocco (3) 0-0 (0) Spain: Mid-Block Masterclass
Spain passed and passed and passed, but couldn’t find a way to break the deadlock as every route to goal was blocked by an Atlas Lion.
While Nayef Aguerd was exceptional at the back when called upon, most of Morocco’s defensive tasks were carried out in midfield — as shown by the defensive pressure map provided by FIFA:
Morocco’s defensive pressure distribution versus Spain is a neat demonstration of how mid-blocks interact with the threats posed by possession-savvy sides.
That’s to say: Walid Regragui’s team took the ball away from their opponents in a very specific and pre-mediated way. Morocco made a total of 573 pressures versus Spain — which reflects their low share of possession — and the majority (317) directed the attackers to the outside.
In effect, Morocco funnelled Spain’s attacks out into the wide areas and away from their net — slowing the tempo of their already timid positional play. Defensive actions — actual attempts to take possession, rather than moves toward the ball carrier — tell a similar story about the match.
More often than not, Morocco pinched possession from Spain in the space between the base of the centre circle and the top of the penalty area ‘D’ — exactly as Regragui intended with his mid-block. Spain, by contrast, took the ball from the Atlas Lions all over the pitch with a much lower recovery time (15.63s versus 7.61s):
It was a match of ying versus yang: Spain hurried when they were out of possession but were slow when the ball arrived at their boots. Their opponents followed the opposite course, and won as a result.
Defensively, there was only one winner between Spain and Morocco — but what about in the final third?
Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder who players in defence under Enrique, wasn’t impressed by Morocco’s apparent lack of offensive desire.
“Morocco offered absolutely nothing,” he said. “Without disrespecting them, they did nothing. They just waited for the counters. They stayed behind us and tried to counter us.”
Well, yeah…
Morocco thrived on the counter and matched Spain in terms of expected goals until Pablo Sarabia rattled the post with the last kick of extra time. And their movement was key.
Whenever they won the ball, the Atlas Lions immediately set their eyes on Spain’s defensive third. Their movement can be described as vertical and opportunistic — it was all about absorbing pressure and counter-punching. Fast.
Unlike Spain, who largely played to feet, Morocco constantly looked to break in behind when in the middle and final thirds. It worked.
Qatar 2022: The Mid-Block World Cup
Morocco will face Portugal in the quarter-finals in what promises to be a game of cat and mouse.
The Atlas Lions have already shown that they can suffocate slow-ball possession teams (Spain and Belgium), but what about the more dynamic Portuguese?
Portugal produced one of the best team performances of the tournament versus Switzerland by attacking with pace and creativity.
Unlike their Iberian neighbours, Fernando Santos’ side cannot be accused of keeping possession for possession’s sake or attacking without urgency. They balled out in the round of sixteen.
It will be more difficult for Regragui to plot a path to victory in the quarter-final due to Portugal’s style of play. They will hand Morocco more time on the ball in an attempt to draw them out of their shape and into positions of vulnerability.
Santos, in other words, will set a mouse trap for the Moroccans: ‘have more of the ball but beware our threat on the counter.’
Be prepared for another chess match on Sunday [10 December]. It should be fun.