Africa’s first World Cup semifinalists are playing defending champions France and their star striker Kylian Mbappe, the leader of a new wave of football superstars coming out of an era dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Doha, Qatar: Morocco’s improbable, history-making run at the World Cup is about to get its ultimate test, a report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
Africa’s first World Cup semifinalists are playing defending champions France and their star striker Kylian Mbappe, the leader of a new wave of football superstars coming out of an era dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
So far Morocco have exceeded all expectations in Qatar by beating second-ranked Belgium in the group stage and then eliminating European powerhouses Spain and Portugal in the knockout phase to reach the semifinals.
No African or Arab nation has ever come this far. It is one of the biggest stories in the World Cup’s 92-year history.
“I was asked if we can win the World Cup and I said, ‘why not? We can dream, it doesn’t cost you anything to have dreams’,” said Walid Regragui, Morocco’s French-born coach. “European countries are used to winning the World Cup and we have played top sides, we have not had an easy run. Anyone playing us is going to be afraid of us now.”
As for France, The defending champions have just passed their own big test by coming through a tough quarterfinal against England, on a rare occasion when Mbappe was kept quiet.
No player has scored more than his five goals and it won’t be easy for Mbappe to add to that tally against Morocco, who are yet to concede a goal to an opposition player at this World Cup — or indeed in their nine games since Regragui was hired in August.
Morocco might have some injuries now — Aguerd and fellow centre-back Romain Saiss could be missing — but Regragui’s game plan relies on team shape and discipline.
I was asked if we can win the World Cup and I said, ‘why not? We can dream, it doesn’t cost you anything to have dreams’. Walid Regragui, Morocco coach
France and Morocco will face off in a major international tournament for the first time in their history and this will also be their first meeting in 15 years. They have faced each other 11 times and Les Bleus have the upper hand in those contests, winning seven, drawing three, and losing only once.
Morocco are the only team amongst the semifinalists who are yet to concede a goal to a rival player.
Morocco have managed four clean sheets in the competition. On the other hand, France haven’t kept a clean sheet yet.
‘Frenemies’ for the night
Kylian Mbappe on the left flank of France’s attack will cross paths with Morocco’s right back Hakimi are actually friends off the field. The pair sit next to each other on plane trips, they play video games and holiday together.
“After we play against Morocco, I have to destroy my friend,” Mbappe said in a video on a trip to Qatar in January with their club Paris St Germain. “I’m going to kick him,” a smiling Hakimi responded.
Mbappe has scored five goals and delivered two assists at this World Cup while Hakimi has been key in helping Morocco concede only 10 shots on target in their five matches.
Hakimi celebrated his winning penalty against Spain in the last-16 by imitating a penguin — something he does with Mbappe and Sergio Ramos at PSG. Reuters
Short Takes
Lloris texted Kane after penalty heartache
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris sent a text to England striker Harry Kane after his Tottenham Hotspur teammate blazed a late penalty over the crossbar in his side’s 1-2 quarterfinal loss on Saturday. “It’s a difficult time for the England national team and Harry,” Lloris said. “I don’t need to go too much further. We had a text (exchange) after the game. It was not easy to find the words. He needed some time to rest. But I think he can be proud of what he has done for the national team.”
Hearts swing in hometown of Morocco coach
Ahead of the semifinal between Morocco and France, Hichem Sayadi is feeling torn by divided loyalties. Speaking from his local sports hall in Corbeil-Essonnes, a French suburb south of Paris, where Morocco coach Walid Regragui started playing football, and wearing a Paris St Germain tracksuit, the 29-year-old says he will eventually come down on the side of Morocco.
Moroccan fans can score free ticket
Hundreds of Moroccan fans waited outside Al Janoub Stadium (in pic) today for a chance to score a free ticket to the country’s semifinal game against France. The tickets were given out by the Moroccan federation in coordination with FIFA and the Qatari organising committee. “We bought the rest of unsold tickets in the stadium and we distributed them to our fans,” Moroccan federation president Fouzi Lekjaa said. “They are here and they have only one desire — to see the national team.”
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