Everybody said Hakim Ziyech was difficult. Lavishly, undeniably gifted, of course, but too argumentative, too disruptive, too opinionated to be worth the trouble that followed in his wake. Managing an international team is as much an H.R. job as anything, and, for Morocco, Ziyech was not worth the risk.
Just a few months ago, it seemed feasible that this World Cup would pass by without Ziyech. He had fallen out with Vahid Halilhodzic, Morocco’s wily, well-traveled coach, and been ostracized from the national team as a result. Morocco was not short on creative talent. Ziyech was deemed disposable.