Al Rayyan, Dec. 5, (dpa/GNA) – Marocco’s last-16 game against Spain on Tuesday has been named “our fourth final at this World Cup” by coach Walid Regragui.
Morocco played an impressive group stage by drawing with 2018 runners-up Croatia and then beating Belgium and Canada to reach the knock-out stages for the first time since 1986.
They now run into 2010 champions Spain for who Regragui and his camp have huge respect.
“We are playing against one of the biggest football nations in the world. For me, Spain is one of the favourites to reach the final,” Regragui told reporters on Monday.
“Some of our players play in the Spain league. We love watching Spanish football,” added Regragui, who himself had played there at Santander during his career.
Morocco’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with Arsene Wenger, head of the ruling body FIFA’s technical study group, saying that “Morocco could be one of the surprise teams.”
Source: Ghana News Agency
