Hakim Ziyech has just created a buzz. Another one, one might say. But this time, it’s in spite of himself, and the buzz has already gone around the world. In a Turkish Super Lig match, the Galatasaray player, alone facing the empty goal, finds a way not to shake the net, his ball flying into the air. A rather improbable miss, which will certainly end up among the best failures of the year.
Of course, all great players can miss a match, a shot. But Ziyech’s miss is not so anecdotal. This is a sign that something is wrong. He is clearly a boy who thinks about things, who ruminates, who is not in his right mind.
At Galatasaray, despite being leader of its championship, the player hasn’t really been around for a while. In difficulty on the pitch, where he has still not scored since the start of the season, also in cold weather with his trainer, often injured or in poor form, he is even being considered to leave Turkey for a new destination. The Gulf, perhaps…
It is therefore this player that the national coach chose not to call up for the last Atlas Lions gathering. Wise decision. When a boy is not on track in his club life, the selection matches can revive him. Or push it. It’s a double-edged sword. In the past, Ziyech has often managed to relaunch himself in the selection while he was eating his black bread at the club.
This time, the situation has changed. Regragui certainly did not sanction the player, he rather spared him. Above all, the national coach has enough offensive weapons to rest the first scorer of the Atlas Lions (25 goals in 64 caps).
For those who had a doubt, the Gabon and Lesotho matches provided the right answer. Without Ziyech, we felt Ben Seghir and Diaz liberated. Since the arrival of these two nuggets, Regragui has never found the right formula to create this essential alchemy with Ziyech and make the three offensive talents play together. Tactical problem, with potential technical incompatibility.
There is a choice to make and, failing to decide, Regragui seems to be moving forward in his thinking. After all, Diaz also does not benefit from sufficient time in the club, where his contribution seems minimal. However, he was summoned to the last Lions gathering…
In selection, Ziyech has not scored in the game since the last CAN. A competition in which neither Diaz nor Ben Seghir had taken part. And since the CAN, if Ziyech has scored again, it is only from a penalty.
The combination of all these elements suggests that Ziyech could play a less and less important role in the selection. It’s not dramatic, but we’ll have to see if the fiery Hakim would easily accept a possible change of status, he who had clashed with former coaches for less than that…
For the moment, we are not there. Ziyech must first regain his football, his form and above all his mentality which seems to be at half mast. This is all the harm we wish for this divisive but endearing boy.
Walid Regragui and Hakim Ziyech.. DR
