Whether it qualifies for the quarter-finals or is eliminated by Spain on Tuesday evening, Morocco will have succeeded in its World Cup. A little more, of course, if the stay of the Atlas Lions were to extend for a few days, the time to meet the winner of Portugal-Switzerland. But if Spain eliminates Morocco, as a certain sporting logic often undermined since the start of this World Cup would have it, the Moroccans will be welcomed as heroes when they return to the Kingdom, before scattering a everywhere in order to take a few days of vacation.
“If Spain qualify, everyone will find it normal, because on paper, the Spaniards are the favourites. But with what they have shown since the start of the World Cup, and especially during the two matches against Belgium (2-0) and Canada (2-1), we have the right to believe it, because the Lions are growing in power‘, assures the former international Youssouf Hadji.
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Walid Regragui carried in triumph after Morocco’s victory against Canada (2-1), Thursday December 1, 2022. / World Cup
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When he was appointed last August, Walid Regragui (46), who was coming out of a flamboyant year with WAC Casablanca (Champions League and Moroccan Championship), after the titles obtained with FUS Rabat and Al Duhail (Qatar) had no other objective than to do well in Qatar, in a particularly strong group (Croatia, Belgium and Canada).
Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was instead aiming for qualification for AFCON 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire and for the 2026 World Cup.”But in Morocco, we know very well that patience is not always required. Imagine a completely failed 2022 World Cup, with three heavy defeats… It could have happened, and I’m not sure Walid would have been maintained. With the results he has just obtained, he has gained a few years of peace. He will be able to work over time, because we must not forget that he took over the team three months before the World Cup. It was definitely risky‘, continues Hadji. The dismissal of Vahid Halilhodzic recorded, the Moroccan federation had immediately turned to Regragui, who had resigned a few weeks earlier from the WAC.
Unbeaten in six matches
The former defender of AC Ajaccio, Santander and Grenoble (45 caps), for the friendly matches in September in Spain against Chile and Paraguay, immediately contacted Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), in open conflict with Halihodzic . “This was a strong first message. A team like Morocco couldn’t go without a player like Ziyech any longer, especially as the World Cup approaches. He is the best Moroccan player of the moment, the supporters wanted him, and the coach knew how to find the words. But it’s not just that‘, intervenes Mustapha El Haddaoui (55 caps between 1982 and 1994), and who had participated in Morocco’s last round of 16 at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico (0-1 against the FRG).
“Isucceeded in giving style to his team. During the matches against Chile (2-0) and Paraguay (0-0) in September, then against Georgia (3-0), just before the World Cup, we saw a Moroccan team tactically well organized, solid behind, knowing how to use his technical arguments. And mentally, we feel that the players are armed. We saw it especially against Canada, when our opponents came back and pushed to equalise. Morocco had suffered, but held…“
Walid Regragui during Morocco – Croatia in the 2022 World Cup
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Ouaddou: ‘Regragui is a pragmatic coach’
The success of Regragui, undefeated in six matches (four wins, two draws) does not surprise Abdeslam Ouaddou, his former teammate in the selection. “Walid is a binational, he was born in France, where he spent most of his playing career and graduated as a coach. He therefore knows well the mentalities of the dual nationals but also of the local players. He speaks several languages (French, Arabic, Spanish, English). Moreover, he is young and has perfectly integrated the codes of the new generation. So he knows how to talk to the players. In terms of play, he is a pragmatic coach: he knows how to make his team play well, but he also knows how to give up possession to the opponent and practice on the counter.”
Since Regragui took office, Morocco have conceded only one goal (against Canada), a defensive solidity that better explains the results of the North African team in Qatar. “There is clearly a Regragui effect, a real dynamic, we see that the whole group, whether we are talking about starters or substitutes, is involved, that managers, such as Bounou, Saïss, Aguerd, Hakimi, Ziyech, etc. are taking their responsibilities’continues Youssouf Hadji.
On the eve of facing La Roja, Morocco, which embodies Africa’s last hope of having a representative in the quarter-finals after the dry elimination of Senegal by England (0-3), will endorse an outsider costume that suits him very well. “The favorite is Spain, but I think Morocco has the game to cause them problems, as Japan did in the first round.concludes El Haddaoui, who would not hate that the Lions of 2022 do better than those of 1986…
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