Ikoli Victor
Doha
Morocco has wowed everyone watching the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The Atlas Lions have proved that no side can be taken lightly.
Many factors have contributed to their famous victory over the Spaniards coached by the illustrious former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique. Aside from the brilliance of Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who made two outstanding saves in the penalty kicks, the tactical genius of coach Walid Regragui, and the team’s determination and commitment to their coach’s ideology, there is a significant factor – diversity -- that has helped the success of the lone African and Arab nation standing in the tournament.
Morocco is one of the most diverse teams in the World Cup, and it is the quintessential united nation, with 14 of its 26 players born in other countries, including Canada, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy. Each had a different football upbringing, each undergoing different experiences. While this is paying dividends for the surprise package of this World Cup, banking on players from the diaspora or sticking with homegrown talent has always been a contentious issue.
Regragui, who took over the team after Vahid Halilhodzic was fired in August, took advantage of the opportunity to build his team by convincing the Moroccan federation to allow anyone who is qualified at home or abroad to play for the national team. Since then, the team hasn’t lost a game.
“For me, I fight for that a lot of times with my country,” he said.
“Before this World Cup, we had a lot of problem about the guys born in Europe and the guys born in Morocco.”
“I think it showed to the world every Moroccan is Moroccan with his passport,” said Regragui, who was born to Moroccan parents in Paris.
“When you come to the national team, you want to die, you want to fight. And that is what I want to show. And now, we have one example.
“You have different football. You have some players ... born in Italy, some players from Spain, players from France, Netherlands and Belgium. Every country has a football culture, and you make a milkshake with that.”
The Moroccan coach said he knew competing with Spain, who had 77 percent of the game’s possession, is no walk in the park. He had other plans up his sleeve.
“We realised we weren’t going to have a lot of possession,” Regragui said. “We were humble enough to say we aren’t France, Belgium or Germany.”
“We didn’t want to play for penalties. But we knew we had one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
Bounou, a Canadian native, did not disappoint, saving two penalty kicks and watched another hit the right post.
“A little bit of feeling, a little bit of luck,” Bounou explained. “You’re aware of how penalties work.”
The deciding kick came from Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, who was born in Spain, and was gently tucked in with a panenka to end the World Cup for the 2010 champions.
Bounou was named man of the match after being tossed into the air by teammates and Regragui. To cap the team’s outstanding success, the coach took a phone call in the locker room from Morocco’s king, Mohammed VI, who congratulated the team on becoming the fourth African team to advance to the quarterfinals, after Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).
“It’s extraordinary to receive that call. He’s proud of the players and as a result we want to go farther and do our best on the field. We can’t thank our Majesty enough we know he gives us strength and support,” Regragui said.
