Morocco coach says team is the ‘Rocky of this World Cup’
Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui has called the Atlas Lions the “Rocky of this World Cup” ahead of the team’s highly anticipated semi-final clash with reigning champions France.
Regragui compared the Moroccan team’s fairytale run in Qatar to that of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa in the iconic Hollywood film Rocky – played by US actor Sylvester Stallone – which tells the story of a small-time fighter who gets an unexpected shot at the world boxing heavyweight championship and wins.
“We have made our people and our continent so happy and proud,” an energised Regragui said at a news conference after the team’s 1-0 victory over Portugal on Saturday night.
“When you watch Rocky, you want to support Rocky Balboa, and I think we are the Rocky of this World Cup. I think now the world is with Morocco.”
Morocco will stride into tomorrow’s game with reigning champions France after upsetting Belgium, Spain and Portugal to become the first African and Arab team to make it to the World Cup’s semi-final round.
And like Rocky’s final showdown with antagonist Apollo Creed, a
scrappy Morocco is looking to topple a heavyweight of world football.
A win over France, led by the everdangerous Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud, would land the Atlas Lions in their first-ever World Cup final.
“We can dream. Why shouldn’t we
dream about winning the World Cup?” asked Regragui, who took over as the team’s coach only in August. “It doesn’t cost you anything to have dreams. European countries have been used to winning the World Cup.”