Morocco ready to tear apart France in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals in Qatar
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Morocco football team
Morocco. The very mention of this country sends shivers down the spines of football-playing nations. At the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, these men wearing red and green jerseys and shorts have been the face of the Arab world. On Wednesday evening, when they take on France, the Moroccan fervor and flavor will be there to see.
To say the Moroccans have rocked the football world would be stating the obvious. Those familiar with the good old physical maps hung on the walls in classrooms will vouch, spotting European nations and the Americas was so easy. Morocco was hidden. Now, it’s a prominent spot on the world map, having conquered Belgium, Spain, and Portugal.
This was not an invasion, speaking in a historical manner, as we have read in textbooks. Morocco bombed Qatar’s football stadia with such authority, to destroy three teams and dreams was fantastic. No exaggeration, today the Morocco team is the toast of the Arab world and Muslim community. Speaking from a sociological point of view, the impact of Morocco’s assault on European football, viewed by the global audience, has been annihilation.
The world talks about how bad the war is been between Russia and Ukraine. Out there in the deserts of Qatar, where there is still conservatism at large in society and there are many restrictions, none has been able to check Morocco. Their football has been simple, soulful and at the same time caused colossal damage. They have destroyed the reputations of football nations and players who were icons, one by one. Perhaps, shattering the dream of CR7, aka Cristiano Ronaldo, was most painful.
He walked out of the tunnel in tears, knowing very well his iconic status is over as Portugal’s legend. It takes a lot to drop the captain. This is where the Portugal manager, Fernando Santos, showed he was going to pick his first 11 on the form. Santos was no Santa in the build-up to Christmas as he gave no present to Ronaldo, at first. In the end, Santos himself realized he had been exposed by Morocco.
To have reached the semi-final stage in this World Cup and seeing Morocco leave behind debris with each big win has been scary. This is the moment they have waited to tell the world, they can also play football. Perhaps, they do not have too many marquee names who sign megabuck deals with clubs in Euros and British pounds, but they have gained currency in football.
Players from Morocco have received immense love from family and fans
Names of Achraf Hakimi, yes, he plays for Paris St Germain figures on top of the list. Yassine Bounou and Sofiane Boufa, who danced with his mother on the football pitch, are now well-known names. The football world fears them. And, they fear the head coach of Morocco, Walid Regragui, too. He, too, saw his mother in the stands. The way the Moroccan team has drawn inspiration from their families has been inspirational. Reports on various digital platforms have mentioned how the families have kept in touch with the players and cheered them.
So what if they are dressed conservatively, wear a hijab, and cover their body in full? The Moroccan moms have been motivators of the top order, leaving sports psychoanalysts far behind. What it has shown is how Morocco has been different in so many ways. They are conservative, so to say. Today, Morocco’s football represents the Arab and Muslim world, a bit like the Ons Jabeur moment at Wimbledon this summer when she made it to the final.
Morocco versus France will be red hot. France has built a reputation over the years and has in Didier Deschamps a leader who was once part of the winning team in 1998 and piloted the side to the title in 2018. Deschamps knows, he flew into Qatar minus some of the top players. Wednesday’s big fight between these two teams will be much more than football formations and strategy.
It will be about emotions, guts, and how to handle the big stage hype. Pressure has gotten to many teams in crunch situations and in penalty shoot-outs. Morocco knows the focus is today on Leo Messi. That helps in taking the pressure off them, you could say. In tennis, there is a phrase called, “going for broke.” Morocco can use that same faith and philosophy against France. Moroccans are Sunni Muslims with immense faith in Allah.
France would do well to say their prayers as well before stepping onto the football pitch. Let’s see where the divine intervention comes from in this match featuring two top combatants. Morocco has very many characters like the good old “Arnie” famous for his role in The Terminator, produced in 1984. Yes, the same Arnold Schwarzenegger, who still rings a bell!
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)