Morocco is Poised To Play In The World Cup Final, But France Will Be Its Toughest Opponent.

 

Pict from Instagram @team_of_morocco

The World Cup in Morocco has been a Moroccan fairytale, unlike any other.

The Atlas Lions, who became the first country to ever make it to the tournament's final four, are already the most successful African team in World Cup history.

Morocco defeated European giants Belgium, Spain, and Portugal to get to the semifinal round.

The world champion France will now play host to the Atlas Lions.

Head coach Walid Regragui compared his players to "Rocky" after Morocco beat Portugal.

"We have brought such joy and pride to our people and to our continent. When you watch "Rocky," you want to cheer for Rocky Balboa, and in this World Cup, I believe we are Rocky," stated Regragui. "I believe the world is with Morocco right now."

Morocco has undoubtedly outperformed itself at the Qatar 2022 tournament, in part because of the supporters who serve as their "12th man."

Doha is home to thousands of Moroccans, and many more have traveled across the Middle East to cheer on their country, resulting in a constant din at every game.

The national airline of Morocco, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), announced Monday that it will be providing roughly 30 flights to Doha before of the match against France after the victory over Portugal.

There is a growing sense that France won't be playing in the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha, but rather in the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. These supporters include Africans and Arabs from all over the world as well as people who are hoping that this World Cup's Rocky Balboa will land two more knockout blows.

The Atlas Lions also receive energy from their mothers, who may seem like the most improbable source.

Players like Achraf Hakimi and Sofiane Boufal have been spotted kissing or dancing with their mums following Morocco's victories against both Spain and Portugal.

They showed up when Regragui invited the families of the players to stay with the team in Doha. First time for Fatima, Regragui's mother has been present throughout the competition.

She admitted to Moroccan broadcaster Arriyadia that she never traveled to see him play or teach throughout his entire career.

I've lived in France for more than 50 years, and this is the first competition for which I traveled outside of Paris.

Morocco must defeat France, something it has never done before, if supporters want to witness happy tears instead of sad ones after the game.

Morocco and France have only played five times, with Morocco losing four times and drawing once. This is despite the close links between the two countries.

France has been at its most frightening, removing any uncertainty surrounding the World Cup champion from last year.

The French have emerged as strong favorites to defend their crown after scraping through England in the quarterfinals despite missing at least five crucial players.

As the tournament's top scorer and the clear successor to players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappé has once again been the star of the show.

However, France demonstrated against England that it has a variety of additional dangers in addition to the striker from Paris Saint-Germain.

A different unexpected hero, Giroud, headed in the game-winning goal after Antoine Griezmann, who has remade himself as a midfielder, crossed the ball.

Giroud, like Griezmann, has had a comeback during this World Cup. It appeared at one time that Giroud might never play for France again after the striker failed to register a goal in 2018 and Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema later joined the team.

Since then, he has become France's all-time leading scorer with four goals at the World Cup, one more than Mbappé.

As Mbappé lines up against not only the best right back in the world but also his closest friend, Hakimi, the rest of France's players will have to play to their highest potential.

Hakimi is the ideal choice to contain his mercurial companion because the two play together for PSG and have grown inseparable over the past year.

The pair will still be together when they play on Wednesday, as Mbappé promised before the competition.

Mbappé predicted that he would play his pal back in January when the PSG squad was in Doha.

French and Tunisian In a video shot by BeIN Sports, he added, "I hope we win and then we play against Morocco and I have to smash my friend [Hakimi]." "That will make my heart hurt a little, but football," It is what it is; I must murder him.

I have to kick him, Hakimi said in response.

If Mbappé and company are to defeat this determined Moroccan team and get to the final, they will need to be at the top of their ruthless game.