On June 28, Morocco head coach Wahbi Grimes gave a pre-match interview ahead of the fixture against the Netherlands, discussing weather conditions for the upcoming match.

When asked whether tomorrow's match would be a test of fitness, tactics, or mentality, Wahbi replied: "My answer is always the same. This is a FIFA World Cup knockout match between two teams in the global top ten. So it's not just about fitness, not just about technique and tactics, and not just about mentality—it's a comprehensive test of all these elements combined. Fitness, technique, tactics, mentality—every aspect must be at its best. We must be a complete team. We must prepare for every phase and every aspect of the match. In fact, we didn't just start preparing four days ago. Since the start of the FIFA World Cup training camp, we have continuously established our own principles of play while helping players build confidence, making them believe they can handle matches like this. Now, all preparations are complete. The rest is to show it on the pitch tomorrow."

Regarding Brahim Díaz's performance at this FIFA World Cup, Wahbi said: "As you mentioned, he has provided two very important assists. One helped us secure crucial points against Brazil, and the other helped us gain valuable points against Scotland. Both assists came at critical moments that determined the outcome. As for the consistency you mentioned, I don't think it's just Díaz's issue—the whole team is still in continuous development. Our goal is to maintain what we're doing well for longer periods. This applies not just to Díaz but to the entire team. We've shown many excellent things, but we still need to improve consistency and resilience in matches. The players themselves are very aware of this. Whether it's me, the coaching staff, or the players themselves, we feel that with each match, we become more confident and consistent. Therefore, I believe everyone will see a better Díaz tomorrow. Big matches like this often reveal the true strength of outstanding players. I believe he will deliver an excellent performance tomorrow."

When asked whether high temperatures would affect the match's pace, Wahbi said: "High temperatures will definitely impact the match. However, it affects both sides equally. Most of our players compete in European leagues, so this weather is also not easy for us to adapt to—the same applies to the Netherlands. The good news is that once the match starts, the temperature will drop slightly from daytime levels. Regarding high pressing and match tempo, you've raised a very interesting topic. We've observed that at this FIFA World Cup, matches played in enclosed stadiums generally have significantly faster pace and more goals. For example, our match against Haiti had a total of six goals, and several other matches have been similar. This suggests that in enclosed stadiums, match tempo, intensity, and the speed of transitions between attack and defense are all faster. Perhaps this could serve as a reference for FIFA when organizing future events. Of course, this isn't about weather but about the playing environment. As for tomorrow, I believe it will still be a high-level match. Despite the heat, both sides will face similar challenges."

When asked whether the history of the 1986 FIFA World Cup provides additional motivation for the team, Wahbi said: "Many people mention the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Some people often tell me that Morocco defeated Germany back then because the altitude made it very difficult for the German team to adapt. However, I'm not sure if that statement is accurate. I have very vivid memories of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. I was 10 years old then, and that World Cup had a huge impact on me. It was there that I truly began dreaming of one day participating in a FIFA World Cup. But rather than dwelling on the past, I'm now happier to be back in Mexico. Because we can truly feel the enthusiasm the Mexican people have for us. Every time the team bus arrives at the stadium, we see many fans standing on the roadside waving and cheering for us. That feeling is truly wonderful. So what makes us even happier is being in a country that loves football and has a strong football atmosphere. The football culture here is really very similar to Morocco's. Of course, we also hope to go further this time than in 1986. That's also our biggest goal coming here."

Regarding the team's ability to convert chances, Wahbi said: "In fact, we continue to improve. Through match analysis and training, we can see the team becoming more aggressive. More players are entering the penalty area, and the desire to score is getting stronger. Even in training, I can sense that the players are increasingly eager to improve their finishing. So I'm not worried about this at all, because I believe in them. I believe in the attitude they show in training every day, and I believe in their ability. Football is sometimes like this—you don't always need ten chances to score a goal. Maybe in the previous match you wasted eight chances, but in the next match you only have two chances and you convert both. That's football. So I'm not worried about having wasted some chances before. Of course, I can also say, as Rashid often says: 'Guys, shoot, practice shooting more, shoot like crazy.' That's a joke, because his son is on our coaching staff and we've talked about this before. But seriously, we haven't changed our training methods because of this. We still trust our players."

Finally, Wahbi sent a message to all Moroccan fans: "First, I want to thank all the fans who have supported us, whether they are in Morocco or anywhere else in the world. We know you always stand with the team. I want to tell everyone to keep believing in us, because every day we are giving our all for our country. Every training session, every minute of preparation, is to play well for Morocco. Tomorrow, we will dedicate ourselves completely. We will leave all our effort on the pitch. We hope that regardless of the result, all Moroccan fans will be proud of this team. Thank you all."

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