Morocco don’t have any particular plans to cope with the hazard of Kylian Mbappe in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final, with coach Walid Regragui saying holders France posed too many particular person threats to simply consider one.
Mbappe is the event’s high scorer with 5 objectives and got here in for particular consideration from England in Saturday’s quarter-final, the place he was rendered largely ineffective though the French nonetheless received the sport. Morocco don’t have any such related plans, Regragui instructed a information convention on Tuesday forward of the conflict on the Al Bayt Stadium.
“I’m not going to attempt to arrange any specific tactical plan to counter Kylian,” he stated.
“France additionally has different good gamers. (Antoine) Griezmann is on high of his recreation and enjoying properly between the traces and Ousmane Dembele can also be an ideal complement to Mbappe on the opposite wing.Subscriber Solely StoriesPremiumPremiumPremiumPremium
“If we simply give attention to Mbappe that will probably be a mistake. They’re world champions, with world class gamers and they are going to be going for it with all they received. We have to give attention to what we will do to trigger issues for France.”
Mbappe, on the left of the assault, goes up towards Paris St Germain membership mate and shut buddy Achraf Hakimi, who’s Morocco’s extremely rated proper again.
“Achraf is aware of Mbappe higher than me and trains with him each day, so he’s higher positioned than I’m to know the right way to cope with Kylian. Hakimi is likely one of the greatest gamers on the earth, so it’s going to be an excellent duel between the 2,” Regragui stated.
Morocco go into the semi-final wanting so as to add France to a powerful listing of scalps on the event however needing to get gamers slot in time after the exertions of their 5 video games in Qatar. Morocco have been nonetheless scuffling with “numerous accidents” stated the coach, however gamers have been recovering. There are considerations over the first-choice centre again pairing of skipper Romain Saiss and Nayef Aguerd specifically.
“We’ve got a wonderful medical group and so they have been coming with excellent news. However we should wait till the final minute to pick the group. None is out but, however nobody is in both,” he stated.
CRITICISM
There could be no change to their tactical strategy both, added Regragui, dismissing criticism of their defensive block and counter-attacking strategy. “What good is 70% possession if you happen to solely get a couple of pictures on purpose?” he requested.
“All people’s working, everyone is giving their greatest in each approach and we play a collective recreation each time with an excellent spirit, which for me is all the pieces in soccer.
“If you get to the semi-final of the World Cup and you aren’t hungry, there’s an issue. Not everyone seems to be fortunate to play at this stage of the event. The very best group right here, Brazil, has already been knocked out,” Regragui added.
“We’re a really formidable group, we’re hungry. However I don’t know if it is going to be sufficient… it may be. We’re assured and are decided to rewrite the historical past books.”
Morocco are the primary African and Arab nation to succeed in the World Cup semi-finals and trying to take that one step additional.
“I do know we aren’t the favourites, however we’re assured. You may say I’m mad however I believe a little bit of craziness is nice,” he stated.