For Morocco, “the favorite is Belgium”
“You have to call a spade a spade”
Walid Regragui (Morocco coach): “We’re watching the comments, a lot of people are criticizing Belgium, but I’m sure they’ll take it up a notch. The favorite is Belgium, whether you like it or not. They have a fantastic coach (Roberto Martinez), world-class players like (Kevin) De Bruyne, (Eden) Hazard or (Axel) Witsel, and look at the bench they have with (Michy) Batshuayi or (Romelu) Lukaku … And if we want to be a little chauvinistic, I think we have the best goalkeeper in the world (Yassine Bounou, editor’s note), but mentally it’s (Thibaut) Courtois. years, they play together, in the same system , with + top players +, they are semi-finalists of the last World Cup and still present in major competitions. At some point, you have to call a spade a spade.”
“A special match” for the Moroccans in Belgium
Regragui: “What is certain is that it will be a party in Belgium after the match for one of the two communities (laughs)! I hope it will be a party for both communities in Belgium too, that in the stadium there will be there will be entertainment off the field too, brotherhood. For the dual nationals (Anass Zaroury, Bilal El Khannouss, Selim Amallah and Ilias Chair), it is still their country of birth, they grew up there , some could have applied to play on the other side. They are euphoric, give us positive vibes. But regardless of the opponent, we must not think that it is a more special match, even if we know that Basically it is. It’s our job for the staff and me to help them not to think about it. At the beginning, I wanted to bring Bilal El Khannouss (born in Strombeek-Bever, editor’s note) back to a press conference, I almost made the mistake, but he’s only 18.”
Roberto Martinez, coach of Belgium: on the binationals, “my position is clear: you have to represent the country for which you present the most important. When you play in selection, you have to play with your heart. These young people must represent their origins that’s understandable. It’s not a footballing issue here, but a matter of mentality and heart.”
The point gleaned will “liberate” Morocco
Regragui: In 2018, “the first match lost against Iran (1-0 at the last second on a but against his camp, editor’s note) had left traces, I felt it with the group. The echoes that we had in off was that some thought they were already eliminated, some had given up. The desire not to lose was important to the players (against Croatia, editor’s note), today we have a point, that’s fine with us release so that we can be mentally a little stronger.”
Lukaku “is ahead”
Martinez: “Medication, Romelu is in principle only available for the third match (Thursday against Croatia, editor’s note), but he is ahead. He has already trained twice with the group, we will see how it goes will pass today (Saturday, editor’s note). At 100%, he will not be in the starting lineup, I do not know yet if he will be on the score sheet.
Morocco, “a balanced team”
Martinez: “It’s an organized, balanced, composed team, especially at the level of the middle block. I also think that the coach transmits a lot to his players: they believe in their strengths, but we also believe in our strengths.”
Propose collections at a press conference