The 28-year-old Chelsea footballer is left out of Morocco’s next two matches by coach Vahid Halilhodzic. Bosnian manager does not count on Hakim Ziyech in the upcoming Group I matches against Sudan and Guinea.Halilhodzic gave his explanation on Wednesday and said that, when called up for home friendlies against Ghana and Burkina Faso in June, Ziyech’s reacted more than poorly.“His behaviour in the last two matches, especially the last one, was not that of a national team player who as a leader in the team has to be positive role model.“He arrived late and after that he even refused to work. There was no point in discussing it afterwards, as a coach the answer is right there to see. For me, the national team is above everything, nobody can hold it hostage,” said the former Japan, Ivory Coast and Algeria coach.##NAJAVA_MECA_5790817##Back in June, Ziyech stated he was injured and thus could not play against Ghana, but Halilhodzic is convinced ex-Ajax player refused to play due to his attitude.“For the first time in my coaching career, I have seen behaviour that disappoints me. A player who refuses to play a game, admittedly a friendly, on the pretext that he is injured.
“The medical staff made several examinations and said he could play. He then refused to warm up in the second half because he was disappointed to be a substitute.
“For me, that type of behaviour is unacceptable. You can’t cheat with the national team. You are 100% there or you are not,” Halilhodzic said.Dutch-born Ziyech already has a history of quarrels with national team coaches. Herve Renard left him out of the squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals, also because of his attitude.After the two held a ‘clear the air’ meeting in Amsterdam, Ziyech returned to the squad after almost a year’s absence and was selected to go to the 2018 World Cup.
