Then Morocco’s 2-0 win over Belgium in Group F was their first win to qualify for the World Cup since 1998 – since then Morocco have never qualified for four consecutive World Championships.

Fourteen of the 26 members of the Moroccan squad were born abroad – their presence in Morocco matters more than any other team at this World Cup.

Comprised of a mix of naturalized actors from Europe’s thriving migrant communities, it has helped the country innovate.

An important turning point for this team occurred three months ago. At that time, coach Vahid Halilhodzic was sacked and replaced by Reragugui.

Reragui previously won the domestic league title and the African Champions League with Wydad Casablanca last season.

These changes have helped reduce conflict within the team, such as the Chelsea winger, hakim ziyechrefused to play for his country at the time.

Meanwhile, the development of the team on the pitch has also progressed rapidly.

Morocco should receive full support in the first World Cup held in the Arab world.

Their thousands of supporters will join others as airline Royal Air Maroc operates 30 special flights from Casablanca to Doha on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The number of Moroccan national team supporters in Qatar is estimated to be between 20,000 and 40,000.

The football federation also distributed no less than 13,000 free tickets to attend the match against France.

Morocco’s national team players have become heroes amid exuberant victory celebrations across North Africa.

Then, for the diaspora in Europe, they remain grounded – for example, it was shown by Achraf Hakimi kissing and hugging his mother after the victory against Portugal.

Sofiane Boufal also took a similar step, dancing with her mother after qualifying for the semi-finals.

The team also demonstrated their Islamic faith by performing a prostration of thanksgiving on the pitch, after winning the round knock out or fall.

Can the Moroccan national team beat the team of France, which is the former colonial country, at the Al Bayt stadium, Thursday (15/12) early in the morning?

Defensive solidity is a major factor, as the Moroccan national team have conceded just once in eight matches under coach Reragugui – although it was an own goal which ended in a victory against Canada.

Back right Judge unmistakably a mainstay of the team, and no stranger to Europe’s top clubs.

He had experience at Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan before he turned 24.

Here he had to repress his attacking instincts. But the Paris St-Germain star showed emotion and skill in the Panenka shootout to seal a last 16 win over Spain.

Captain Romain Sass earned the nickname ‘Maldini of Morocco’ from former Wolves manager Bruno Lage.

he is with Nayef Aguerd of West Ham took on a solid central defending role. But both suffered injuries, which is uncertain for the game against France.

Possibility Jawad El Yamik and Badr Benoun will replace them in the early rounds.

El Yamiq, who now plays in Spain, Real Valladolid after playing in the Italian League.

The 30-year-old became Morocco’s squad when they won the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2018.

Meanwhile, the 1.8m tall Badr Benoun, nicknamed ‘Sultan’ by his teammates, played for Al Ahly – before moving from the Egyptian giants to the Qatari club this year.

The rest of the players are Noussair Mazraoui Bayern Munich who missed the quarter-finals through injury.

replacement, Yahya Attit Allah – one of three players at former club Reragugui’s Wydad – came on calmly in the middle of the game despite only making his international debut in March.

To know the defense of the Moroccan national team, you must pass the last defense Yassine Bounou, the Canadian-born goaltender known as Bono.

He was a reserve player in Russia four years ago.

The 31-year-old also won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020 and scooped the trophy Zamora last season for being the best goalkeeper in the Spanish La Liga.

“When you have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, it gives you confidence. And Yassine gave it to us,” coach Reragugui said after beating Portugal.

“He [Yassine] helped us a lot and when he came into the game we were almost unstoppable.”

Sofiane Amrabat has been one of the standout players in the last four matches, with relentless pressing and difficult tackling suggesting Morocco’s solid defensive image.

The younger brother of former Watford winger Nordin Amrabat, who was substituted in one of the 2018 final matches, represented the Netherlands in the Under-15 competition. The Dutch-born man is also back to his best form for Fiorentina this season.

Next to him, the midfielder is there Azzedine Ounahi – one of four Moroccan national team players to graduate from the Mohammed VI Football Academy – a producer of European-class players.

“He plays like the Spaniards. He won’t stop running until he’s completely exhausted.”

Playing for club Angers in France, the technically capable and streamlined 22-year-old made his international debut in January and scored twice in a World Cup play-off win over DR Congo two months earlier. late to qualify Morocco.

“Is the phone ringing? It’s ringing a lot,” Angers president Saïd Chabane told RMC France of the interest in Ounahi and his compatriot Boufal, who is also a Starter every game in Qatar.

Meanwhile, game leader Selim Amallah, Former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has also impressed despite not having played for the club since September due to contract disputes with Standard Liege.

Youssef En-Nesyri Up front – despite yet to score for his club Sevilla this season – the 25-year-old made his mark for Morocco at the World Cup.

Wins against Canada and Portugal made him his country’s all-time top scorer in the World Cup rounds. He also scored in the group stage for Spain in 2018.

“I always believed in Youssef because he brings great energy,” said Reragugui.

“Any coach would love to have him in their team because he works so hard for the team, like (Olivier) Giroud from France.”

Ziyech is a gifted player who made a name for himself with Ajax and Chelsea, but Reragugui has found his best talent.

The 29-year-old was in the international desert between June 2021 and September this year after his row with then-Moroccan manager Halilhodzic became public knowledge.

But now he has appeared in eight World Cup finals – making him the record to have played alongside his national team mates.

Boufalone of two Moroccan players born in France, has found form for Angers.

Previously, he scored just three goals in 70 Premier League games during his four years at Southampton – which ended his contract in 2020.

He was one of five members of the squad playing in Liga 1, alongside Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Achraf Dari (Brest), Hakimki and Ounahi.

Hakimi’s intimate knowledge of French star Kylian Mbappe, his Parisian teammate, will be a key factor if Morocco can pull off what has been described as the biggest World Cup upset in their history.

“We are not happy with the semi-finals and being an African country to reach this position. We want to go further,” said Reragugui.