Morocco’s loss to Portugal wasn’t just the result of Portugal’s formidable play, by the byproduct of key injuries and a lack of squad depth. The team’s struggles were compounded by the absence of star player Ismail Amzal, who sustained an injury earlier in the tournament, head coach Hicham Dguig said on Sunday.
The national futsal team’s journey to first place in their group came crashing down on Sunday after a 4-1 loss to Portugal in the final matchday of the group stage at the Futsal World Cup.
“We came here to win, to take first place, but we faced a very tough Portuguese team,” Dguig said in a post-game interview. “Amzal’s injury hit us hard. He’s irreplaceable, and we don’t have the depth to fill in those gaps.”
The coach explained that, in high-level competitions like the World Cup, teams need strong reserves to keep up with the demanding schedule. “To compete at this level, you need three full squads. Right now, we have about one and a half. That’s not enough,” he admitted.
Portugal, ranked among the world’s top futsal teams, capitalized on the national team’s weakened lineup and inability to keep pace in crucial moments of the match. Despite Dguig’s best efforts to adjust tactics, the team was unable to match the physical and tactical edge of their opponents.
Dguig shared his confusion about the player’s injuries. “I still don’t understand why our players are getting injured. These aren’t your typical muscle injuries from fatigue or overwork. I can’t explain it,” he said.
“We’ll regroup and focus on the next match, but we know it’s going to be tough without key players,” Dguig said.
The team will lock horns with Iran on Thursday in their Round of 16 match.