Walid Regragui stated Morocco had proved they’ll go ‘toe-to-toe’ with the world’s prime sides and stated they’ll come again stronger with the goal of profitable the World Cup sooner or later.
The Moroccan coach was filled with reward for his gamers, whom he stated ‘gave all the things’ however simply got here up brief towards Croatia to complete fourth.
However he added: ‘Earlier than the match we got 0.01 per cent likelihood of doing this, and we received to the final 4. We at the moment are one of many prime 4 groups on the earth, and for those who had instructed me that earlier than the match I might have taken it. I might not have modified something.’
Morocco beat Belgium, Spain and Portugal en path to the semi-finals the place they misplaced to France and he added: ‘Croatia at the moment are one of many prime 3 sides on the earth, they usually had been barely stronger than us, as had been France, which is not any shame. We have needed to catch up and have spent the final 10 years making an attempt to try this.
‘These video games are selected small particulars and my gamers gave all the things. I’m pleased with them. We have gone additional than anybody anticipated.
‘We additionally discovered lots from enjoying Belgium, Spain and Portugal. We’ve proven we will go toe-to-toe with a few of these prime groups.
Morocco beat Belgium, Spain and Portugal en path to the semi-finals the place they misplaced to Franc
‘This could encourage different African international locations. It’s within the DNA of European groups to achieve the final levels, and we have now to develop that in our DNA too. Then sooner or later we will win the World Cup.’
And he stated how a lot it meant to see Moroccan followers and their King celebrating their record-breaking run to the final 4, going additional than some other African facet.
‘One thing actually touches me once I see footage of our followers, the youngsters, the King celebrating on the street. Soccer means that you can dream, and we have now allowed our kids to maintain these desires alive and that’s priceless. It means extra to me than profitable a World Cup.
Regragui says different African crew’s can take Morocco’s success in Qatar as inspiration
‘We’ve to offer our kids the footballing DNA that European groups have, and if we try this, sooner or later we’ll win the World Cup.’
Requested if that is the perfect era of African gamers, he stated: ‘It’s onerous when Africa has solely 5 groups within the World Cup, however subsequent time we may have 9. I stated to my gamers within the dressing room ‘if you wish to go down in historical past, you need to win the African Cup of Nations’. If you wish to be kings of the world, you need to first turn into kings of your continent.’
And he signed off to applause when he stated: ‘Thanks all, we have now had a good time right here – lengthy dwell Africa.’
