AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Morocco’s miraculous World Cup run is over, and it ended with one other loss.After making historical past by changing into the primary African crew to succeed in the World Cup semifinals, Morocco misplaced to Croatia 2-1 on Saturday within the match for third place at Khalifa Worldwide Stadium.“In fact we’re disenchanted, however after we get up tomorrow we are going to notice how a lot we now have achieved,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui stated. “A few of my gamers weren’t 100% match however they gave every part to the tip. I’m very proud.”He has a cause to be. Morocco’s exhibiting in Qatar offered probably the most shocking story of the World Cup. The Atlas Lions had been additionally the primary Arab nation to go to date within the event, sparking an outpouring of delight amongst Arab nations throughout an occasion being held within the Center East for the primary time. Celebrations unfold from Gaza Metropolis to Cairo. In Doha, the Moroccan neighborhood felt at residence.“We’re very proud that each one these Moroccans are behind us and it provides us nice power to enter the video games,” Morocco midfielder Ilias Chair stated. “The fan assist was unbelievable. For those who have a look at the video games, it felt like we had been taking part in in Casablanca.”Regragui stated he wouldn’t change a factor about this 12 months’s World Cup.“We had 0.01% of profitable this World Cup on the outset. We managed to get by means of to the final 4,” the coach stated. “We performed in opposition to among the footballing powerhouses of the world.“We’re now one of many prime 4 groups on this planet and in the event you had informed me that earlier than the World Cup and that Morocco can be No. 4 on this planet, I might have accepted that right away.”The triumphant run may even have a optimistic influence for generations of kids in Morocco, Regragui stated.“Soccer makes individuals dream and kids specifically. In Morocco and Africa, we now have saved these desires alive. It means greater than a victory on the World Cup,” the coach stated. “As for the influence on our nation, we now have set the bar excessive and the expectations from our supporters will probably be excessive. We’ve made a incredible achievement however we wish to try this once more. It’s going to at all times be robust for an African nation to succeed in the semifinals however what we would like now could be to get by means of the group stage each time and in the future we are going to win the World Cup.”Morocco topped a bunch that included Croatia, which reached the 2018 last, and second-ranked Belgium. The crew then progressed previous favorites Spain and Portugal within the knockout levels earlier than dropping to defending champion France 2-0 in one among its greatest performances.“It’s a proud second, a dream come true. I couldn’t be prouder than this,” Chair stated. “Just a little bit disenchanted, clearly, as a result of we deserved extra as a crew, but in addition a really proud second as a result of we wrote historical past.”___AP Soccer Author James Robson contributed to this report.__AP World Cup protection: https://Fifanews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Morocco’s miraculous run on the World Cup ends in defeat
![Morocco's miraculous run on the World Cup ends in defeat 6 Morocco's miraculous run at the World Cup ends in defeat](https://i0.wp.com/fifanews.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Moroccos-miraculous-run-at-the-World-Cup-ends-in-defeat-scaled.jpeg?resize=860%2C573&ssl=1)