The Moroccan team meets France again in a World Cup. Since Qatar 2022, the Atlas Lions have earned global respect by reaching the semi-finals, where they fell to Les Bleus. Four years later, fate confronts them again in a match that will determine their place in the next round.
The Moroccan coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, does not want to listen to premature praise. Although his team is already considered a revelation, he rejects it:
“When they say that we have had a successful tournament, I don’t like it. The evaluations must be done at the end. We are doing everything possible to win. We are not going to listen to those who say: ‘What they have done is already good, France is the favorite’. We will not fall into that trap.”
Ouahbi anticipates a complex match. Their message is clear: they will go out and play as if they were on the ropes. “The only prize is to win the Cup. Our strengths are what have brought us back here. We are evolving and so is France. We are better than in 2022,” he stated.
Brahim Díaz, a figure of the team, recognized the talent of the rival, especially his teammates at Real Madrid:
“Aurélien and Kylian are my teammates at Real Madrid. They are great players and beautiful people. But tomorrow we will be rivals. I have confidence in my team. I know we will play a great game.”
Morocco, with its sights on the cup, seeks to show that its performance in 2022 was no coincidence. This duel is an opportunity to write a new page in their football history.
