Former England forward Alan Shearer has heaped praise on the shining star of the Morocco team - Sofyan Amrabat.

With the North African side valiantly losing in the semifinals of the World Cup to France, many of their rising stars are catching the eye.

None have been more impressive than Amrabat in midfield, with the Fiorentina man now being linked to top Premier League clubs.

"He's been absolutely magnificent," Shearer told BBC's pre-match coverage.

"I said it at the top of the show, they're really difficult to beat and very good without the ball, and one of the reasons for that is this guy. He gives them so much protection, you can see how many tackles he's made and he's a huge part of their success up to now.

"He'll do exactly what he's been doing up to now (against France), and this job there, you'll see him just in front of the back four, maybe a back five tonight, he'll still be in there, patrolling, trying to read the game, trying to stop any balls into the front players, and that's what he's done the entire tournament.

"He gets it and then he can feed the ball in, and you can see him go back there. He'll be reluctant to get forward as he wants to protect, he'll want to do that.

"He really enjoys that and he's really good at that - 'get off the ball, I'm having it' - and he's setting his team forward. He's been key. He does that, he protects, he can get out there and help his full-backs, and that's what he's in that role to do - to stop, and be a spoiler - he's excellent at it. Then he drives forward and they're on their way. He's been magnificent, he really has."