Former Morocco winger Zakaria Aboukhlal has urged the Atlas Lions to go beyond defensive discipline when they face France in Friday's FIFA World Cup quarterfinal, insisting the side must also show courage in possession to stand a chance against Les Bleus. The clash is the first World Cup meeting between the two nations since France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

The Weight of 2022

That 2022 semi-final ended Morocco's historic run as the first African and Arab nation to reach the last four of a FIFA World Cup. Aboukhlal, who came on as a second-half substitute in that match, recalled the psychological intensity of facing France even while trailing.

'I remember the intensity and the feeling that we were still in the game. Even though we were behind, we kept believing and pushing. France were difficult because they punished every small mistake. They have speed, experience, and players who can decide a match in one moment. Sometimes you feel you are in control, but one transition can change everything,' Aboukhlal said.

Beyond Mbappé: France's All-Round Threat

The Torino winger cautioned that containing Kylian Mbappé alone would not be sufficient, stressing that France carry match-winning quality across the entire squad.

'Of course, Mbappé is one of the best players in the world, so you have to be aware of him. But France are not only Mbappé. They have quality everywhere,' he said. 'Morocco will have to defend together, stay compact, and not give France too much space in transition. But they also have to be brave with the ball. Against France, you cannot survive. You need moments where you make them defend as well.'

A Matured Morocco Side

Although Aboukhlal was not selected for Morocco's 2026 World Cup squad, he has closely tracked the team's progress throughout the tournament. He believes the current generation has grown significantly since the breakthrough campaign in Qatar.

'The maturity. They look calm, confident, and together. They don't look surprised to be at this stage. They want to play to their own strengths, no matter who the opponent is,' he noted.

New Leaders Stepping Up

Aboukhlal also highlighted the leadership depth within the squad following the international retirement of former captain Romain Saiss, pointing to goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, defender Noussair Mazraoui, and skipper Achraf Hakimi as the pillars of the current group.

'Of course, Romain was a big leader, but this team has more leaders now. Bono is one of them, and you also have players like Mazraoui and Hakimi who understand what it means to represent Morocco,' he said.

What Another Deep Run Would Mean

Looking at the bigger picture, Aboukhlal argued that advancing past France would validate Morocco's standing as a consistent force in world football rather than a one-tournament wonder.

'It would be massive, but more than that, it would show that Morocco have continued on the path they started in 2022. They have already proven they built something special, and now they are showing consistency at the highest level. It would confirm that Morocco is not just capable of one great tournament, but that they can compete with the best again and again,' he concluded.

Friday's quarterfinal will be closely watched across Africa and the Arab world, where Morocco's 2022 run generated unprecedented footballing pride. A repeat deep run would further cement the Atlas Lions' place among the sport's elite.