Morocco, a mission against the champion

Straight

Like many at this point, tonight's France-Morocco match (8:00 p.m., La1) is just a game and it is also much more than a game.

For the Africans, the semifinal against the last world champion contains a transcendental mission that was described yesterday by their coach, Walid Regragui, born on the outskirts of Paris: “We have come to change the mentality of our continent.

If we were happy to get here, we would say that this is enough, but no.

We are one of the top four teams and we want to reach the final,” he said.

"We want to rewrite the history books for all of Africa."

The surprise World Cup team has become a symbol on that continent and also in Arab countries.

But they also consider it a national mission: “The important thing for us is that we represent Morocco.

There is an image to show the world, and this is the best showcase.

Our closeness to families is an important part of our culture.

Also our religion.

Morocco has always been a country that has respected religions and countries.

And as in the field, we are generous and do not expect anything in return.

Some may see it as a weakness, but I see it as a strength."

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In the Al Bayt stadium, designed as a tent and built on the edge of the desert, Regragui's team will be accompanied by some 20,000 compatriots pushing against the country of which they were protectorate.

This extraordinary displacement has the French on guard, as Hugo Lloris acknowledged yesterday: “We are trying to prepare ourselves.

There will be a hostile environment, with many Moroccan fans who will make a lot of noise.

It's going to be hard to focus."

France is perhaps the best-armed team in the tournament, with quintals of talent in all lines and the brilliant cherry on top of Mbappé.

They will face a rock with superlative conviction, a team that has only one goal against in five games, and they got it into their own goal.

Impenetrable in defence, quick on the counter and uncomplexed with stylistic criticism, according to Regragui: “We don't care about possession, nor the expected goals.

Guardiola was my hero.

I wanted to keep the ball, something you can do with Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne.

I don't care about European journalists who criticize us.

Those days are over.

We want to win".

But on his way to that fantastic story, the world champion stands in the way: "They have been very strong in defense, but we have studied them and we are going to find the solution," said Deschamps.

"We want possession, but not without more, but to use it and create problems for the rival."

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