Tag: morocco vs spain

  • Behind Morocco’s dream run at FIFA World Cup, is a secret weapon within the stands — gamers’ households

    THERE’S THIS heartwarming viral clip from the World Cup. It has Morocco’s star-player Achraf Hakimi, after the win over Spain, tearing away to the enclosure the place his mom is seated. He climbs over the barricade and hugs her, tears rolling down the eyes of each. She holds his face and kisses him on his brow. Several Moroccan followers now have this emotional image as their wallpaper — and a banner, written in Darija, the Moroccan Arabic, that reads: “You are our favourite son.”

    Not simply Hakimi, you can see a number of different teammates within the embrace of their mother and father. In reality, mother and father of a lot of the Moroccan gamers are in Doha to observe their kids play, many capping lengthy journeys of hardship and ache.

    “My mother cleaned houses and my father was a street vendor. We come from a modest family that struggled to earn a living. Today, I fight every day for them,” Hakimi had mentioned in 2018, the yr he joined the German membership Borussia Dortmund.

    In Doha on Tuesday evening, just a few yards away from Hakimi was midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri kissing his father, his mom capturing the second. So have been Yahya Jabrane, Zakaria Aboukhlal and Bilal el-Khannouss. As although it have been an enormous household event.

    It was coach Walid Regragui who persuaded the soccer federation to let the members of the family of footballers and assist employees accompany them. Regragui’s mom, too, is right here. “Based on our experience in 2018, along with our technical team, we chose the option to bring the families. Some players have kids, some would rather have their parents with them. We did a good job in that regard. The spirit of family off the pitch, we want to bring that onto the pitch, and until now it’s functioning very well,” the coach mentioned.

    Though not the richest federation on the planet, Moroccan soccer officers determined to fulfill all of the bills, together with lodging on the identical resort because the gamers are staying.

    Regragui, nonetheless, was conscious of the backlash in the event that they crashed out early. “When you win, there’s no negatives, everyone is happy, but if you lose they will say — ‘Why did you bring the families?’ That was a dilemma a lot of them told me,” he mentioned.

    But now that they’re within the World Cup quarterfinals for the primary time of their historical past, the coach’s transfer has turned out to be a masterstroke.

    After the Spain match, which Morocco received on penalties, an emotional Regragui mentioned, “For us, they (the parents) are everything, the reason we are here. Whether we win or lose, we want them to be here and be proud of what they have achieved. They are our strength and the reason we are here. Our success is impossible without our parents’ happiness,” he mentioned.

    Regragui’s mom Fathima has by no means seen him play a sport, or accompanied him wherever in his travels as a coach. But when he requested her to affix him in Doha, she couldn’t resist. “We have been settled in France for 50-55 years, and apart from club games in the neighbourhood, I have never watched Walid play. I was at first reluctant to leave home, but he persuaded me and told me that I was his strength. So I thought I would go with him. And every time I see him, I get emotional,” Fathima advised Al Ayam, a Moroccan each day.

    Before each sport, she would meet and bless him. Before the sport in opposition to Canada, she despatched him a easy however touching message: “Whether you lose or win, I am proud of you, my son.” Her solely hassle, says Al Ayam journalist Amir Badr, is that she is getting too many telephone calls from kinfolk, acquaintances and journalists.

    “She and Sadia (Hakimi’s mother) have become the most famous mothers in Morocco. Everyone is proud of them and everyone wants to convey their wishes to them. Everyone wants a picture with them in the stands. Everyone recognises them outside the stadium, everyone is inviting them to their house,” he mentioned.

    Fathima had migrated to Corbeil-Essonnes, about 30 km from Paris, even earlier than Regragui was born. Hakimi’s mom emigrated to Spain when she was in her teenagers and had migrated to Madrid on the peak of the Moroccan migration within the Nineteen Eighties. She did odd jobs like cleansing homes and streets for livelihood whereas his father was a avenue vendor. “They gave up their lives for me. They took many things away from my siblings in order for me to succeed. Today, I play for them,” he had posted on Instagram.

    The households have bonded a lot over the previous three weeks that they’re now like an enormous household itself. “They are staying in different parts of the world, have never met each other, from different backgrounds but now they are all like a family, wishing and praying for each other’s success, dining out together, spending time together,” says Badr, the journalist.

    They comprise a mini fan-group themselves, and are joined by hundreds of Moroccans settled in Qatar and almost 50,000 who’ve flown from Morocco and components of Europe, Africa and the Middle East to assist on match-days.

    This scarlet wall of assist — mom, father, household and a rustic that has develop into one massive household — has now impressed the coach to dream of what was unthinkable until just a few weeks in the past, successful the World Cup. “We believe we can do anything as a team,” Regragui mentioned.

  • ‘Bit of intitution, bit of luck’: Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou on penalty saves to remove Spain

    Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has a historical past of seizing the larger moments in soccer. At the 2022 World Cup, it was when he accomplished an assured recreation as a goalkeeper who may cross out from the again whereas additionally making two key saves in a penalty shootout towards Spain to drop the 2010 World Champions out of the World Cup.

    “You know penalties, it’s a little bit of intuition, a little bit of luck,” Bounou stated to beIN Sports.

    But just a few years again, he had relegated a 122-goal, record-setting Manchester United group to their third trophy defeat of the season. Playing for Sevilla as their first-choice goalkeeper, Bounou made six saves on an evening when United tried frantically to make a comeback into the sport. He repeatedly denied Anthony Martial in entrance of aim and so they ended up dropping 2-1 as Sevilla went on to raise yet one more Europa trophy, this time because of their Moroccan custodian.

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    In Doha, Bounou has been a part of a outstanding Moroccan squad that’s taken down Belgium, Canada and now Spain whereas drawing degree towards present World Cup finalists Croatia. They’ve carried out all this whereas solely conceding one aim by way of greater than 400 minutes of soccer.

    Born in Montreal, Quebec, Bounou’s dad and mom had been Moroccans. But at a really younger age, he moved again to his residence nation. Bounou had the choice of enjoying for both Canada or Morocco however selected the Moroccans, having performed within the Moroccan league. He bought his break when he joined three-time CAF Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca in 2011.

    After a few years for the Moroccan giants, Bounou was picked up by the Atletico Madrid B group for whom he performed for 2 years and had 47 appearances. This began his ongoing ten-year journey in Spain the place he has performed for the Atletico Madrid senior group, Real Zaragoza, Girona (visited Kochi in 2018 and was a part of the squad that defeated Kerala Blasters 5-0). His finest stint within the La Liga although, has been his most up-to-date. Bounou presently has 76 appearances with Sevilla, together with a Europa League title the place they beat Inter Milan within the ultimate.

    Moroccan followers and journalists had been seen screaming and crying after their group beat Spain. One journalist was captured crying within the media tribune whereas one other Moroccan journalist thanked Bounou and his supervisor Walid Regragui.

    With each nations close to one another, many Moroccans immigrate to Spain and each nations share historical past. Bounou was in truth named the primary African MVP, an award that was began by the La Liga within the 2021-22 season.

    Morocco subsequent faces Portugal. The quarter-final match will see one of many stingiest defences on the match tackle a group that dropped Cristiano Ronaldo after which scored six objectives in addition.

  • Spain doesn’t lose, it learns: Sergio Ramos pens morale boosting observe after group’s FIFA World Cup exit

    Morocco vs Spain, FIFA World Cup Round of 16: Sergio Ramos penned a morale-boosting observe for Spain after it crashed out of the match within the final 16 stage. Spain misplaced to Morocco in penalties 0-3.

    New Delhi ,UPDATED: Dec 7, 2022 09:43 IST

    Spain crashed out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after shedding to Morocco in penalties. (AP Photo)

    By India Today Web Desk: Sergio Ramos penned a morale-boosting observe for Spain after it crashed out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup following a defeat towards Morocco within the Round of 16.

    Spain and Morocco performed out a goalless draw over 120 minutes earlier than Spain squandered the primary three penalty makes an attempt towards Morocco 0-3 to bow out of the match.

    Ramos, who was missed by Luis Enrique for the World Cup in Qatar, stated: “Today more than ever, proud of our (Spain) flag, proud of our country and proud of our players. Spain does not lose, Spain learns. Spain falls, stumbles, but gets up and continues to lead. We will be back and we will be back stronger. Come on, Spain.”

    In the Round of 16 match, Spain dominated possession and accomplished virtually 800 passes however did not create clear probabilities towards Morocco’s defence in 90 minutes plus further time.

    For Spain, that is their second consecutive defeat in a penalty shootout within the final 16 after the 2018 occasion in Russia. Meanwhile, Morocco turned solely the fourth African nation to succeed in quarter-finals 12 years after Ghana achieved the feat.

    Spain wasted most of their time by orbiting round Morocco’s penalty space with out making an attempt any photographs. The 2010 world champions lacked leading edge whereas attempting to use Morocco’s tempo.

    “I am more than satisfied with my team. They represented my ideas and my style and I can only praise for them for their attitude in the whole World Cup,” Spain coach Luis Enrique stated. “I would also like to congratulate Morocco for their win. They were better than us in the penalty shootout.”

    Published On:

    Dec 7, 2022

  • FIFA World Cup: Morocco’s resilience sends Spain’s possession kings house

    Watching his Panenka trickle into the centre of the aim, Achraf Hakimi turned again, virtually broke right into a dance step, then froze, maybe in a sudden surge of emotion. His teammates, their arms unfold out to embrace him, rushed onto him. Hakimi, as if teasing them, tore away into the route of Yassine Bounou, the goalkeeper they fondly name Bono, the rockstar of the evening who made a brace of saves within the shootout, off Sergio Busquets and Carlos Soler, the second and third makes an attempt of Spain. Their first shot, by Pablo Sarabia, had rebounded off the publish, as Morocco beat Spain 3-0 within the tie-breaker after the sport ended goalless after 120 minutes.

    The celebrations by no means ceased in essentially the most historic of nights in Moroccan soccer. Ever the underdogs, one of the best that they had ever managed was the pre-quarterfinals of the 1986 version, powered by their golden era, however crashing out to a Lothar Matthaus aim within the 88th minute. This batch of 2022 — with no such repute —ensured that they didn’t endure any last-minute ache or pangs.

    That the victory got here in opposition to Spain, with whom they share a border and have had fractious diplomatic ties and territorial disputes previously, would have made the event sweeter. Ironically, it was a Spain-born participant, Hakimi, whose kick kicked Spain out of the event. Bounou is on the rolls of LaLiga facet Sevilla too. Several others too are both born in Spain or connected to Spanish golf equipment.

    Essentially, it was a triumph of Morocco’s defensive resilience, of their want and doggedness, of will and braveness. Spain bossed the sport, with their array of technical gamers — they loved 76 p.c possession, had 13 makes an attempt on aim (Morocco mustered solely six). Young although they had been, most of them are blue-eyed boys of among the greatest golf equipment on the earth. As many as 5 of the Spaniards flip up for Barcelona, three for Real Madrid. Contrarily, Morocco had simply a few huge names; Hakim Ziyech and Hakimi. But ultimately, none of it mattered: fame or fanfare, pedigree or previous.

    The grandeur of the event didn’t overwhelm Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui, a home-grown coach, as he caught along with his ideas. Defend meticulously. His group, in spite of everything, has conceded a lone aim in the whole event, an own-goal off a depraved deflection. So he let Spain take pleasure in all of the possession and midfield superiority, and his group would assault on the break.

    Cagey contest

    What ensued was a nervous match, which ignited into life solely in sporadic bursts. Spain rotated and recycled the ball amongst themselves without end with none actual penetration. And each time they appeared like flicking the change, Morocco’s defenders would stoutly defend and lash the ball upfield. Though Spain’s possession was sustained, their passing and urgent weren’t relentless.

    It was not all defence, although. They produced some eye-pleasing moments when attacking as nicely. None extra so than the trick Sofiane Boufal pulled on Marcos Llorente. He subjected the Spaniard to an outrageous feint that left the defender swishing skinny air twice in as many seconds and leaving him on the ground.

    As the match wore on, Spain pressed greater, their passing patterns received quicker, photographs flew out and in of the goalmouth like wanton children flying paper planes. Spain knocked, banged, pounded and kicked on the scarlet door nevertheless it stood agency like a barn-door. Almost the whole second half was performed on the sting of the Moroccan field, and 1 / 4 of it inside it. But they didn’t wilt. Romain Saiss was immense, as was his confederate Nayef Aguerd, who limped off late within the second half. The help from Hakimi and Sofia Amrabat was equally unbelievable, as they repelled wave after wave of Spanish intrusions.

    The finish of regular time introduced aid. But additional time loomed. Moroccan legs had been wearying, made to look wearier by the tempo of Nico Williams, one other substitute. Spain received buzzier; Morocco’s defence, actually the whole group, received busier. Spain might need felt like driving on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, thought-about essentially the most traffic-choked street on the earth, at peak hour. Just as one thinks the street is free, one other automotive pops up from the left, one other pounces from the appropriate. Between a Spanish boot and aim was usually a Moroccan head or shoulder, toe or torso.

    There, although, was nothing cynical or brutish, no bone-jarring challenges or tangled legs. That they copped only one yellow card in 120 minutes nails the purpose. It was a defensive masterclass within the wonderful custom of Italian catenaccio.

    In the tip, Saiss may hardly stroll. Morocco had exhausted their substitutes; but they fought, but they battled, as if their life clung onto the results of the match. As spirited because the gamers had been their followers, who cranked up the decibels even within the dying moments of the sport, puffing and panting, sweat dripping from them like water, but unconquerable within the spirit.