Morocco coach Walid Regragui has hailed the battling spirit of his gamers after they defeated Portugal 1-0 to turn out to be the primary African nationwide crew ever to achieve the World Cup semi-final stage.
Youssef En-Nesyri’s header late within the first half on Saturday at Al Thumama Stadium despatched the Atlas Lions by to a last-four showdown with reigning champions France or England.
“We got here up towards a extremely nice Portugal crew. We’re drawing on all we’ve got, we nonetheless have guys injured. I informed the fellows earlier than the match we needed to write historical past for Africa. I’m very, very completely happy,” Regragui informed France’s TF1.
Regragui, a France-born former Morocco worldwide, had already made historical past of his personal as the primary African coach to take a crew into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Walid Regragui has constructed a machine. Lower than three months with this crew and he has reworked them into a really deadly crew.
The spirit that they’ve showcased to this point is one which many an African crew can study a factor or two from. pic.twitter.com/jR6y4opZv1
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) December 10, 2022
“Africa is again on the map of soccer as we speak,” he mentioned. “We had the mentality. We knew we may make historical past for Africa.
“We had the fitting angle for our folks, for us, for Africa. It’s at all times tough for us African coaches. You don’t suppose we will deal with such groups tactically.”
Morocco have now defeated three of Europe’s strongest groups in Qatar – beating Belgium within the group stage and Spain on penalties within the final 16 – after drawing 0-0 with 2018 runners-up Croatia of their opening match.
“If you watch Rocky, you need to assist Rocky Balboa due to his exhausting work and dedication and I believe we’re the Rocky Balboa of this World Cup,” Regragui informed reporters, referencing the lead character in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky sequence.
“We’re turning into the crew that everybody loves at this World Cup, as a result of we’re exhibiting that even when you don’t have as a lot expertise, when you present that need, coronary heart and perception, you possibly can obtain.”
Morocco will tackle both holders France or England on Wednesday at Al Bayt Stadium with the possibility to turn out to be the primary nation from exterior Europe or South America to achieve the ultimate.
“We are able to dream, why shouldn’t we dream about successful the World Cup?” added Regragui, who solely took over as coach in August. “It doesn’t value you something to have desires. European international locations have been used to successful the World Cup.”
Winger Sofiane Boufal additionally hopes there’s extra to come back.
“It’s loopy. We’re residing and dreaming, and we don’t need to get up. I’ve goosebumps,” he mentioned.
“Every part we’ve got, we deserve. We work exhausting. It’s not over. There’s nonetheless the semifinal and, God prepared, the ultimate.”
Off the sector, this Morocco squad is uniting the Arab world, inspiring shows of Arab id from followers in numerous international locations.
“We’re taking it one match at a time. We need to win each sport,” Morocco’s Abdelhamid Sabiri mentioned, who later posted a photograph of himself on Instagram with a Palestine flag wrapped round him.
Moroccan Nationwide crew participant Abdelhamid Sabiri posted an image on Instagram, carrying the Palestinian flag 🇵🇸 after the crew’s victory over Portugal on the FIFAWorldCup with a caption “Freedom.” pic.twitter.com/IkD5tgjPZO
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) December 10, 2022
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. Nobody thought we may do it. I mentioned final week that we needed to finish the curse.”
It’s a seminal second in World Cup historical past, with an African nation lastly advancing to the degrees sometimes solely reached by European or South American groups. Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all reached the quarterfinals however acquired no additional.