The coach of Morocco Walid Regragui has predicted that his team would make it difficult for France to defeat them before their 2022 World Cup semi-final match in Qatar.
The Arab nation became the first African nation to advance to a World Cup semifinal after defeating Portugal 1-0. At Al Thumama Stadium, striker Youssef En-Nesyri scored the game-winning goal in the first half by leaping highest and outjumping goalkeeper Diogo Costa to the ball.
France, on the other hand, defeated England 2-1 to reach the semis.
“We’ve played some really top sides, but so far we haven’t achieved anything,” said Regragui, who only took over as coach in August.
“Anyone who plays us now will have to be at the top of their game to beat us, it won’t be easy for them, that’s the message I’m trying to send out.”
Morocco had become the fourth African nation to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, following in the footsteps of Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).
The game is scheduled to take place at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday.