Morocco coach Walid Regragui has vowed to rewrite the history books and put African football on top of the world, warning France that his trailblazing side are not finished yet following their dream run to tomorrow’s semi-final.
The first African nation to reach the last four of the World Cup meet the defending champions in Al Bayt.
Morocco are major underdogs against Didier Deschamps’ side, but have already upset the odds in qualifying from the group stage ahead of Belgium, then beating Spain and Portugal in knockout ties to get this far.
“The further we go in the tournament, the more difficult the games are,” Regragui said this morning. “We are going to play the world champions, with some world-class players and a very good coach, perhaps the best in the world. But we are going to focus on what we do well, show great desire and try to pull off an upset. Why not reach the final of the World Cup?
“We are very ambitious and we are hungry. I don’t know if that’s going to be enough but it could be because we have a great spirit, we’re very confident and we are determined to rewrite the history books. We want Africa to be on top of the world.
“You may say I am mad, I am crazy, but I think a bit of craziness is good.”
Three African countries — Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana — had previously reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out, while Morocco had themselves only once made it as far as the last-16, way back in 1986.
However, Regragui, who took over only in August after winning the African Champions League with Wydad AC, says his team are not satisfied with their work so far.
“We want to try and get rid of that mentality that we perhaps had before,” he said. “We came into the tournament with great ambition and we’ve come to change mindsets, in our continent, in particular.
“If we say we are happy to reach the semi-final and we say that’s enough, many people might agree, many people would see that as a success — but I don’t.
“We are one of the best four teams in the world now. We haven’t reached this stage by chance so we are going to give everything to reach the final.
“We have had perhaps the most difficult run to this stage of the tournament, beating some top sides. With every match, some people thought we would be knocked out but we’re still here.
“I came here saying we could go far in the tournament and the closer we get to the final, the closer we get to our dreams.”
Morocco have several injury concerns, with first-choice centre-backs Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss both significant doubts. Those who are healthy must find the energy to go again after herculean efforts against Spain and Portugal, but Regragui is certain his troops will lift themselves once more.
“Everyone might think we are tired but you can’t be tired in a World Cup semi-final,” he added. “We have a number of injuries. We will have to wait until the last minute, we always take decisions quite late. No one is out for now but no one is definitely in either.”
The high life: Walid Regragui enjoys the celebrations after Morocco pull off another upset, beating Portugal to reach the semi-finals
