Main event
Africa spans 30.37m square kilometres, taking in more than 1.2 billion people, who speak between 1,000 and 2,000 languages across 54 countries. These are aspects not always obvious from the monolithic way a continent of wondrous diversity is written about and discussed, something the World Cup has brought into even sharper focus.
Of course, it remains true and significant that Morocco – who face France in this evening’s second semi-final – are the first African side to reach this stage of the competition. But, though Walid Regragui’s men no doubt feel the honour of that joyous achievement, what is also evident is the extent to which it is particular and specific.
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Morocco is a Muslim country, and before the last-16 penalty shootout against Spain, the players recited Surah al-Fatiha, the first chapter of the Qur’an. Then, after securing passage to the quarter-final and also after winning it, the squad ran to their fans and prostrated themselves in prayer – in the process, declaring to the planet not only their pride in being Moroccan but their pride in Islam, inspiring ecstatic celebrations throughout the Muslim world.
With good reason. There is no World Cup of discrimination nor should there be – every minority and every ethnic group has its challenges, and the way these are overcome is with unity not rivalry. But anyone whose eyes are prepared to see knows that Muslims are persecuted in many nations, whether by discrimination when seeking employment, backhanded insults and equivocations in news reports, or outright violence. And as with many forms of prejudice, it is women who often bear the brunt.
So to see Moroccan players paying homage to Allah before applying Allah’s teaching to pay homage to their mothers – who were wearing hijab! At the game! On global television! – was not only beautiful, moving and uplifting, but important, crystallising the crux of international competition: to learn about different cultures; to share love by celebrating difference; to make the world a better place. Amin. DH
Talking points
Álvarez creating space for Messi to express his genius
Lionel Messi is good at football – you may have noticed – and in his brilliance over the last week, there’s been something reminiscent of Zinedine Zidane – also good at football – who, at the 2006 World Cup, dredged up the display of his dotage when France beat Brazil in the quarter-final, then scored the winner as they eliminated Portugal in the semi. What these efforts have in common is, of course, ridiculous genius – but there’s more to it than that. Just as Zidane had the intelligent, tenacious running of Thierry Henry, Florent Malouda and Franck Ribéry ahead of him, so Messi’s influence is intensified by the exuberance and aggression of Julián Álvarez stretching the play, which gives him space in which to work and a target to hit. Consequently, whoever Argentina meet in the final will need a plan – not just to combat the respective individuals, but their burgeoning partnership. DH
Should the England manager always be English?
When Jamie Carragher tweeted “The @England manager should always be English!” he started a discourse which then escalated rapidly. Anyone who’s looking to irreparably damage their wellbeing: by all means, read the quote tweets. On the one hand, Englishness is an arbitrary characteristic which does not make someone good or bad at being a football manager, in the same way as once having had red hair does not make someone a good Fifa president. On the other, it may well have helped Gareth Southgate, for instance, that he was already deeply familiar with the internal workings of the FA and the wider context of English football when he stepped up from managing the under-21s in 2016. Every manager who has won the men’s World Cup has been the same nationality as the team they coached to victory. Does that mean a foreign manager could never win the tournament? The obvious answer is: no, it does not, but that would be a great question to ask on Twitter if you wanted your mentions to be an absolute bin fire. WM
Beyond the football
Fifpro, the global professional footballers’ union, says it is “shocked and sickened” by reports emerging from Iran that Amir Nasr-Azadani is facing execution after “campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country”. Fifpro added that it “stands in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment”.
Nasr-Azadani, a 26-year-old defender who last played for Tractor in Iran’s Pro League, is one of six people Amnesty have said could be awaiting or undergoing trial on charges carrying the death penalty. On Tuesday, courts in Tehran sentenced more than 400 people to prison terms for charges related to recent protests in the country.
FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country.
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) December 12, 2022
We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment. pic.twitter.com/vPuylCS2ph
Global media-watch
Before France’s clash with Morocco, some focus in the French press was on the gulf in status between the squad. In Libération one data exercise looked at their comparable transfer values, claiming Les Bleus are valued at nearly €1bn while Morocco’s players are worth less than €250m. The paper also took a more historical view of the links between the nations, reviving the memory of Larbi Ben Barek. The Moroccan-born player appeared for France 17 times, but the gap between his debut in December 1938 and his final cap in October 1954 made him not only one of the most successful French-African players of the era, but the longest-serving French international of all-time.
The historian Yvan Gastaut explored the colonial history between the two nations in Le Monde. “Even today, the French championship is still more prestigious and players will always choose to play for the French team rather than the Moroccan team if they have the choice,” he wrote. This may come as some news to French-born Romain Saïss, who has excelled in Qatar. He chose Morocco over France, and has plied his club trade in England and Turkey rather than Ligue 1.
In Morocco’s French-language Le Matin, Abderrahmane Ichi predicted a tactical battle on Wednesday night, saying “even if coach Walid Regragui is, as usual, showing modesty … he has been able to respond to the tactical patterns of his opponents and has managed to outsmart them. Roberto Martínez, Luis Enrique and Fernando Santos know all about it.”
In another Le Matin piece, Youssef Moutmaine recalled that in 2016, Marco van Basten lambasted one of Morocco’s stars for opting to play for the Atlas Lions. “These are stupid choices, they are stupid boys who should have had a little patience. Hakim Ziyech is a great player but how can you be stupid enough to opt for Morocco when you are eligible for the Dutch team?” Moutmaine writes that Ziyech said he had chosen with his heart, and notes: “When it comes down to it, Mr Van Basten, the choice of the heart has not turned out so stupid after all”. MBe
The internet reacts
This clip of the football reporter Carrie Brown has warmed hearts on social media, as she explains how Raheem Sterling and Kieran Trippier took the time to join a video call with her parents, who both have dementia. The two England players also chatted online with staff at their care home, and Brown said: “That will stay with me longer than any goal at this tournament.”
My personal experience of being blown away by Southgate’s fine young men. https://t.co/wPKFxo0ZDs
— Carrie Brown 💙 (@CarrieBrownTV) December 11, 2022
Meanwhile, USA fans wonder if Gio Reyna’s growing war of words with his head coach, Gregg Berhalter, might mean their team are finally in the big leagues:
This is how France was built https://t.co/WDWqZFINrn
— Zito (@_Zeets) December 12, 2022
Throughout the tournament, ITV viewers have tweeted their love for Ally McCoist while being less enthusiastic about some of the channel’s other commentators. And they were quick to notice when McCoist was added to the mix for Argentina v Croatia:
ITV adding Ally McCoist to the already contracted Matterface/Dixon duo is a real "we heard you" moment.
— Grace Robertson 🏳️⚧️ (@GraceOnFootball) December 13, 2022
Brazil may have watched Argentina’s march to the final with some regret but at least they have found their next great striker, even if if Richarlison says it himself:
FROM RICHARLISON'S INSTAGRAM. It appears he has likenesses of himself, Neymar and 🇧🇷 Ronaldo tattooed on his back. pic.twitter.com/Eg4ziLZyZj
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 13, 2022
Today’s match
France v Morocco (Semi-final, 7pm GMT, BBC One) When it comes to football matches with deep historical significance, it doesn’t get much bigger than a World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco. With a relationship which is inextricably tied up in the story of French colonialism but also shaped by close linguistic, social and cultural links, there is a political dimension to the game which is impossible to overlook. As the first African and Arab representative to reach the semi-finals, Morocco will draw widespread support from countries with shared heritage as well as the Moroccan diaspora in Europe. “We have made our people and our continent so happy and proud,” said Walid Regragui. “When you watch Rocky, you want to support Rocky Balboa and I think we are the Rocky of this World Cup.” France are firm favourites, but then so were Spain and Portugal. WM
Player to watch
Achraf Hakimi On Saturday, it was Kyle Walker’s turn. Now, it’s Achraf Hakimi’s. Walker, to his credit, did an excellent job of keeping Kylian Mbappé quiet even as England lost their quarter-final against France, but Hakimi needs no lessons in how to contain the Paris Saint-Germain forward. Teammates at club level, the pair will have faced off countless times in training and should know each other inside out. As much as Morocco need to stifle Mbappé, France will need to keep an eye on his opposite man. One of the best attacking right-backs in world football, Hakimi is crucial to Morocco’s counterattacking game and could be extremely dangerous. WM
And finally …
The France captain, Hugo Lloris, has revealed that he texted Harry Kane after the 2-1 win over England but “it was not easy to find the words” after his Tottenham teammate’s heartbreaking penalty miss. Judging by these supportive words, Lloris didn’t just send him a row of laughing emojis. “I think he can be proud of what he has done for the national team,” he told reporters at France’s press conference to preview the Morocco match.
“In football history, many top players have missed penalties in their career – Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo – but I have no doubt Harry will keep his chin up and help Tottenham and the national team to shine.” GB
