On Wednesday evening in Rancagua, Mohamed Ouahbi, the coach of Morocco's under-20 team, expressed the team's readiness to face South Korea in the World Cup round of 16 with «a lot of determination and focus». Ouahbi highlighted that the Moroccan players are committed to maintaining the mindset that has propelled them through the group stage. Speaking to the press during the final training session before this crucial match, he emphasized that the national team «fears no opponent, but respects all teams». He acknowledged that the match against South Korea presents a significant challenge due to their players' discipline, agility, and technical prowess, especially during set pieces. Ouahbi pointed out that South Korea's impressive performances in the last two U20 World Cup editions, where they reached the semi-finals and then the final, serve as «an additional source of motivation» for the Atlas Cubs. Despite Morocco's strong showing in the group stage, the coach stressed that knockout matches are a different ball game, where «the smallest detail can make the difference». He urged the players to remain vigilant and to uphold the team spirit and commitment that have defined their tournament journey so far. Meanwhile, the Cubs' goalkeeper, Hakim Mesbahi, acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming match against South Korea but assured that the team has thoroughly studied their opponent's style and is ready to secure a positive outcome. Teammate Anas Tajouart echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the Moroccan team «does not underestimate» their South Korean counterparts and commending «the constant progress» made by the South Korean team in recent years. The match is set to kick off on Thursday at midnight (GMT+1) at the El Teniente Stadium in Rancagua, located about 86 kilometers south of Santiago.
