Morocco head coach Walid Regragui celebrates after they beat Spain on the FIFA World Cup. AP
Doha: Morocco may have the backing of a complete continent after they try to develop into Africa’s first World Cup semi-finalists by beating Portugal on Saturday, mentioned coach Walid Regragui.
The North Africans will tackle Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium as the primary Arab nation to succeed in the final eight after beating Spain on penalties within the final 16.
A World Cup semi-final towards both England or France is up for grabs, alongside a spot within the historical past books.
Cameroon in 1990, Senegal’s 2002 facet and the 2010 Ghana staff all fell on the quarter-final stage.
“We now have nothing to lose. The problem is to do in addition to we did within the earlier video games,” Regragui mentioned on the eve of the match towards Portugal.
“We need to present that Africa deserves to be right here, Morocco deserves to be right here.
“We now have a complete individuals behind us, a continent behind us and the Arab world behind us. That’s a number of vitality behind us. We’re going to attempt to do all the pieces we are able to.
“We will do it, we are able to make historical past once more. It (the help) can push us, assist us truly to play with this stress, to not make any errors.
Morocco have one of the best defensive report within the event, having conceded just one aim of their 4 matches.
However Regragui warned: “We will’t relaxation on our laurels. We haven’t received carried away, we’ve simply shocked just a few individuals and some algorithms who anticipated Belgium or Spain to be within the quarter-finals.”
Ronaldo issue
Cristiano Ronaldo was a shock omission from Portugal’s beginning XI for his or her match towards Switzerland within the final 16, along with his alternative, Goncalo Ramos, scoring a hat-trick in a 6-1 win.
However Regragui would favor to see the Portuguese teamsheet with out the title of worldwide males’s soccer’s biggest goal-scorer.
“They’re going to be contemporary,” he mentioned. “I don’t know if Ronaldo’s going to play, however I hope he doesn’t. I do know he’s probably the greatest gamers in historical past so I don’t need him to play.”
Morocco’s success in Qatar has sparked celebrations again house, but additionally in a number of European international locations the place the Moroccan diaspora stay.
Fourteen of Regragui’s 26-man squad have been born outdoors the African nation.
“Individuals are figuring out with us and we’ve managed to unite Moroccans behind this soccer staff,” he mentioned. “I believe that’s price greater than something, it’s price greater than cash, it’s price greater than titles.
“We’ve made individuals joyful, we’ve made individuals proud however that’s not the one purpose we’re right here — we’re right here to win matches and go so far as we are able to on this event.”
Morocco have had a sequence of damage issues, with full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui enjoying regardless of not being totally match.
Centre-back Nayef Aguerd hobbled off injured within the Spain match however might be able to play on Saturday.
“Numerous accidents, individuals sick. We’ve performed numerous video games with out individuals one hundred pc,” mentioned Regragui.
“I’m proud for that as a result of no person has seen Morocco at one hundred pc energy. Aguerd is ready tomorrow to see if he can play or not.”
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