Andy Robertson said Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi is the best full-back in the world before Friday’s World Cup match in Boston, Massachusetts. The Scotland captain made the remarks as both teams prepared for 23:00 GMT+1, with the lineups already listing Hakimi, Scott McTominay and John McGinn.
Robertson’s case rested on direct experience. He said he had faced Hakimi in the Champions League over the last two years and described the Morocco defender as someone who can appear in the penalty area and then recover quickly into one-on-one defending. That is the kind of profile Scotland will have to solve if it wants to limit Morocco’s right side.
Robertson's Champions League view
Robertson put the praise in personal terms, saying: “Credo che Hakimi sia il miglior terzino al mondo in questo momento. L'ho affrontato in Champions League negli ultimi due anni e, onestamente, è un vero fenomeno calcistico. Ti regala un piacere eccezionale vederlo giocare”. He added: “Ciò che mi impressiona sinceramente è la sua flessibilità fisica; Hakimi gioca con assoluta libertà, tanto che puoi vederlo nell'area di rigore e, pochi secondi dopo, lo ritrovi rapidamente in difesa in situazioni di uno contro uno”.
That assessment is not just praise. Robertson was pointing to a defender who can join attacks and still get back into shape before an opponent can exploit the space left behind. For Scotland, that means the work in possession and the timing of any forward break will matter as much as the initial duel.
Scotland and Morocco lineups
The pre-match lists already set the shape of the contest. Scotland’s lineup included Robertson, McTominay and McGinn, with Steve Clarke named as coach. Morocco’s lineup included Hakimi, El Aynaoui, Bouaddi and Bono, with Ouahbi listed as coach.
Robertson also made the contradiction plain. He said he admired everything Hakimi does, but hoped he would play a quiet game against Scotland. That leaves Scotland with a familiar problem before kickoff: how to respect a player Robertson rates so highly without giving him the sort of room that turns admiration into damage.
The match is scheduled for Friday in Boston at 23:00 GMT+1, and the immediate question is whether Scotland can keep Hakimi from dictating the right flank from the first whistle.
