From a document seven wins within the group stage to having a crew within the semi-final for the primary time, this has been the event for Africa. With their moms in arms – Sofiane Boufal dancing along with his mum after beating Portugal could possibly be the event’s defining body beating Walid Regragui climbing the terraces to fulfill his – Morocco have marched into unknown territory saying they’re hungry for extra.
“In case you are not that may be a downside, not everyone seems to be fortunate sufficient to return this far,” mentioned Morocco’s coach after declaring that the “greatest crew, Brazil” didn’t. “I’m within the semi-final of the World Cup. I had dreamt of it as a little bit boy,” mentioned Ilias Chair. That he hasn’t obtained a minute’s motion in Doha didn’t matter, the midfielder mentioned on Tuesday.
For Morocco’s dream to proceed, Regragui mentioned, there should be extra sacrifices, organisation and focus. There might be extra of the defence-heavy model they’ve dropped at this World Cup as a result of Regragui spoke about sticking to what has labored. From goal man Youssef En-Nesyri to Yassine Bounou in objective, Morocco are going to stay collectively making it as tough as attainable for France to interrupt via. And the strive their luck on the counter with their ball-carrying midfielders.
England confirmed that it’s attainable to include Kylian Mbappe by not altering their sport. They performed 4 on the again although with Kyle Walker in a extra central defensive place than wing again and restricted Mbappe to the fewest touches he obtained contained in the penalty space (3), because the final World Cup last. Mbappe did beat Walker in a dash however it led to nothing. With Morocco leaving little house between their frontman and Bounou, with Hakim Ziyech and Boufal combining tasks of flying down the flanks and dropping deep to assist the backline, it might imply one other tough night time for Mbappe however he can and does change video games in a flash.
How France discover house between the traces will rely upon the form of sport Antoine Griezmann is having. Numbers don’t all the time inform the story – and Regragui warned in opposition to an excessive amount of significance to xG (Anticipated Targets) and a variety of possession saying they imply nothing should you don’t win – however Griezmann has had a wonderful World Cup. He hasn’t added to his tally of 42 worldwide objectives which places Griezmann behind solely Olivier Giroud and Thierry Henry. He has not scored in 14 worldwide video games because the World Cup qualifier in opposition to Kazakhstan in November 2021. However his significance will be gauged from the truth that he has began every of France’s final 72 video games.
In 2018, Griezmann had 4 objectives and 4 assists. In 5 World Cup video games, having performed practically each minute besides in opposition to Tunisia when Didier Deschamps rested a variety of starters, Griezmann has two assists, each in opposition to England. After the quarter-final, nobody, not even Zinedine Zidane or Henry, has extra for France than his 28. “The ball from Grizi was excellent,” Giroud mentioned whereas describing his objective that knocked England out.
Beset by accidents, France have reorganised their midfield with Griezmann, in his phrases, “being there within the relationship between defence and forwards.” Not like in Brazil when Deschamps was constructing a crew that might conquer the world in 4 years, Griezmann doesn’t play on the left. Not like in Russia, he doesn’t play additional up the pitch both. As a result of Paul Pogba and N’ Golo Kante and Christopher Nkunku will not be right here, he performs in a central function linking up extra with Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot than he would 4 years earlier. Griezmann nonetheless has the legs to assist the defence and rush ahead to affix an assault. And he was all the time a participant who didn’t shirk defensive tasks. He’s additionally France’s set-piece grasp.
“We’d like him to be simply pretty much as good tomorrow. He can change a crew. He’s a tough employee and technically certified,” mentioned Deschamps someday earlier than the semi-final. “He’s all the time pondering of the nice for the crew.”
Griezmann is amongst these Raphael Varane has referred to as a “historic soldier”, one who is aware of what it takes to win a World Cup. Mbappe, Hugo Lloris, Olivier Giroud and he being the others, in accordance with Varane. Gamers who transmit calm and composure to the crew when wanted.
Bounou does that for Morocco. There may be a variety of France on the opposite facet too – Regragui has grown up in a Paris suburb and spoke of the enjoyment those that maintain French and Moroccan nationalities will derive from the semi-final – however like Griezmann, Bounou performs in La Liga. Winner of the Ricardo Zamora Trophy, given to one of the best goalkeeper in La Liga, the Sevilla keeper typifies ‘niyyah’, the polyglot Regragui preferring an Arab phrase to explain his crew’s intent, however does it with a smile.
He smiled after saving a late effort from Cristiano Ronaldo within the quarter-final and he did that after tipping over a rasping Joao Felix’s drive. All the things Portugal threw at him – and it was loads – Bounou repelled with a smile. “When Yassine makes that form of save (in opposition to Ronaldo) and will get into the sport, we’re nearly unstoppable,” Regragui mentioned after the match.
As he did in opposition to Spain, within the tie-breaker and earlier than. “I wouldn’t change something,” Spain coach Luis Enrique mentioned in regards to the penalties which knocked out Spain. “Simply their goalkeeper.”
No crew has been capable of breach Bounou’s cage; the one objective Morocco have let in was a self-goal in opposition to Canada. “When you’ve among the best goalkeepers on the earth, it provides you confidence, and Yassine provides us that.”
Bounou has been singularly self-effacing in such moments. “I need to thank all the fellows for the laborious work. I used to be MVP as a result of there are huge gamers with me, it’s as a result of my pals have been at a excessive degree and did their jobs,” he mentioned after amassing his second successive player-of-the-match award.
Soccer is at its greatest when the price of the collective is bigger than the sum of its particular person elements. Griezmann and Bounou, each 31, typify that. What’s to not say that each might be smiling after a tough, honest duel.