Morocco internationals formed a circle and hopped across the pitch at Al Thumama Stadium. They ran to their fans, who were among the loudest WM belong, and made the wave with them. They threw their coach Walid Reragui in the air. Overwhelmed by their emotions, some professionals cried. It was also difficult to process what the team had achieved. through the 2-1 win once morest Canada In the final preliminary round game, the “Atlas Lions” sensationally secured the group victory in season F ahead of vice world champion Croatia and the reigning World Cup third party Belgium, who has to travel home.
advertisement
Morocco are in a World Cup round of 16 for the second time since 1986 – now once morest Spain. The side have proved that they are an uncomfortable opponent who can worry even established footballing nations by winning the first Group World Cup campaign by an African country this century.
The heart of the team is the defense with the full-backs Noussair Mazraoui from FC Bayern and the ex-Dortmunder Achrafi Hakimi, who now earns his money at Paris Saint-Germain. At the World Cup, no opponent has scored once morest Morocco. The only goal conceded was the own goal of Nayef Aguerd in a 2-1 win once morest Canada. Coach Regragui has faced accusations of playing too defensively in the past, but success in Qatar proves him right. In addition, he did not have much time to train his team to attack – he only took up his post three months ago and replaced the experienced one Vahid Halihodzic ab.
Among other things, a quarrel with him had become fatal Judge Ziyech, the most prominent player who had been left out under Halihodzic. After the change of coach, the Chelsea winger returned from exile with the national team, played a strong World Cup and scored once morest Canada to make it 1-0 early (4th minute). He lacks match practice. He is rarely used at Chelsea due to the high level of competition. Dutch legend Marco van Basten advises Ziyech to make a move: “It’s a shame for the whole of football that he’s on the bench. We watch TV and go to the stadium to see players like him. He should play in another team to entertain the fans.”
advertisement
Other professionals can also make the difference for Morocco. Examples are center forwards Youssef En-Nesyri from FC Sevilla, who scored to make it 2-0 (23rd), and attacking midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri, who grew up in Frankfurt and played for the German U21s.
In Qatar, Morocco won just as many games as in the entire history of the country’s World Cup to date – namely two. Reaching the round of 16 is a monumental achievement: “This generation deserves to make history,” said Hakimi. And coach Regragui replied to the question of whether the world title was even possible: “Why shouldn’t we dream of it?”
The Belgians, who mightn’t get more than 0-0 once morest Croatia, missed a number of chances, dreamed it up. After the first World Cup preliminary round since 1998 coach Roberto Martínez announced his resignation. “Today was my last game as national coach. It’s obviously very emotional,” said the Spaniard.
[Anzeige] All World Cup matches live and exclusively in the conference on MagentaTV. With the Tarif MagentaTV Flex for only 10€ per month, cancellable monthly.
