Morocco coach Walid Legragi, who was on the verge of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since 1986, downplayed his role.
“There are other coaches that like to make you think that they’re magicians, they’re the ones, they’re puppeteers. The players are the ones that make the coach and not the other way around,” Regragui said through a translator on Wednesday.
Morocco advanced with a win or draw against already-eliminated Canada on Thursday and could advance to the last 16 with a loss depending on the outcome of Belgium’s match against Croatia. The Atlas Lions opened with a 0–0 draw against Croatia, with goals from Roman Sais and Zakaria Abhlal to beat his second-placed Belgium 2–0.
Leguragi, who replaced Vahid Halilhodzic in August, said if his tactics didn’t work against Belgium, “it was something that probably would have had plenty of Morocco after my skin.”
Morocco will face Spain, Germany, Japan or Costa Rica in the knockout stage. The North African team made headlines in his 1986 with his 0–0 draws against Poland and England, followed by his 3–1 victory over Portugal. West Germany won the round of 16 game 1-0 when Lothar Matthaus scored a free kick from 30 meters in the 88th minute.
Morocco and Canada have faced each other before, with the Atlas Lions winning 4-0 in a 2016 friendly, with Hakim Ziyech scoring twice.
The 29-year-old Chelsea midfielder Ziyech was relegated to Halilhodzic but made his return to the national team under Legraghi in September after a 15-month absence.
“A lot of people talk about him, about he is a crazy guy, he is a difficult guy to manage, he can’t help the team. For me, what I say, when you give him the love, the confidence, he can die for you. And it’s what I give him. … He is a big player, playing on a big team in Europe and you see he is a different player with the national team. All of the coaches give him the confidence, the same with the staff,” Regragui said.
Canada have been tied 5-0 in World Cup matches and failed to score in one appearance in 1986. They took an early lead against Croatia, but lost 4-1, after losing 1-0 to him despite beating Belgium in most of the opening games of the year.
Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first World Cup goal, leading his team to the finish line 68 seconds early in this year’s tournament.
“It could have been very easy to park the bus, to park the airplane in front of our net,” Canada defender Steven Vitória said. “The future I think is very clear, very bright. And I know Canada is proud. I’m very excited for the growth of this team.”
Morocco goalkeeper Yasine Bounou feels better and is “ready for tomorrow’s game,” said Leguraghi. Bounou felt ill before the Belgium game and was replaced by Munir El Kajoui just before kick-off.
Canada’s coach John Hardman said he didn’t shake hands with Zlako Dalic after the match against Croatia because the opposing coach ran down the touchline to celebrate with his players, Hardman said before the game. said he shook hands with.
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