Morocco manager Walid Regragui said the dramatic penalty-shootout victory against Spain vindicated his fight for foreign-born players to be included in their World Cup squad.
Spain-born Achraf Hakimi struck the winning spot-kick against the 2010 champions at Education City Stadium on Tuesday night, etching Morocco in history as the first Arab team to reach the quarter-finals of football’s showpiece tournament.
Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain having begun his professional career with Real Madrid, is one of 14 players within Morocco’s 26-man squad born outside of the country.
Yassine Bounou, the goalkeeper better known as "Bono" who saved two penalties in the shootout after the match finished goalless, was born in Canada.
Regragui, born in France, said Morocco’s record run was proof that foreign-born players can help lift the national team to sustained success.
“For this I have fought,” he said. “Before this World Cup we had a lot of problems about the guys born in Europe and guys not born in Morocco and a lot of journalists said, ‘Why don’t we play with guys born in Morocco?’.
“Today we have shown that every Moroccan is Moroccan. When he comes to the national team he wants to die, he wants to fight. As the coach, I was born in France, and nobody can have my heart for my country.
“This is what I say to the players. Every time they come to the national team they give 100 per cent.
“What is good is that players are born in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium – every country has a football culture and we have created a mixture and I’m very happy with that.”
Morocco v Spain ratings
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MOROCCO RATINGS: Bono, 9 – The eccentric keeper performed like his namesake with some fantastic saves, but most importantly, he was the saviour in the shootout. AFP -
Achraf Hakimi, 9 – The audacious PSG sensation rounded off a great defensive display with a panenka to knock out the Spanish. AFP -
Nayef Aguerd, 8 – The West Ham star was disappointed to hobble off with an injury after showcasing great focus throughout to go alongside some key clearances. AFP -
Romain Saiss, 8 – Captain supreme was a vocal leader from start to finish and barely missed a step outside of a needless yellow card. AFP -
Noussair Mazraoui, 7 – After losing a few early battles, Mazraoui went box to box with great challenges and a nice effort that tested the keeper in the first half. EPA -
Azzedine Ounahi, 8 – Cleared everything up just in front of the defence and always looked like an important presence on the counter. AFP -
Sofyan Amrabat, 9 – Looked strong whenever he was challenged, never stopped running and prevented several key through balls from reaching the box. EPA -
Selim Amallah, 8 – The midfielder provided some smart cover when Morocco needed it and had a few nicely-timed interceptions. AFP -
Hakim Ziyech, 8 – Chelsea’s finest came up big with a strong performance at both ends of the pitch, capping it off with a successful penalty. Getty -
Youssef En-Nesyri, 7 – Outside of a few nice plays on the defensive side of things, the big centre forward barely had a meaningful touch. EPA -
Sofiane Boufal, 7 – While he was forced to drop quite deep to get into the action, Boufal showed solid footwork and did a good job of hunting down the ball. EPA -
SUBS: Abde Ezzalzouli, 7 – Worked hard to make things happen down the flank despite not having many big opportunities. EPA -
Walid Cheddira, 5 – The substitute forward had three golden opportunities to put Spain away, but unfortunately, he didn’t take any of them. AP -
Abdelhamid Sabiri, 8 – After some amazing moments at the back, Sabiri buried his penalty to send Morocco on their way to victory. PA -
Jawad El Yamiq, 7 – Did well to shield the ball every time he was called upon and saved Morocco from late heartbreak at the end of extra time. AP -
Yahya Attiyat Allah, 7 – The no-nonsense defender held off his man, kept his composure when needed and did his job perfectly. Getty -
Badr Benoun, N/A – Didn’t have much time to make an impact in what served as a brief cameo prior to the shootout, in which he missed a penalty. Getty -
SPAIN RATINGS: Unai Simon, 7 - Couldn’t quite hold a 32nd minute powerful shot from Mazraoui but then grabbed hold of it. Saved a 104th minute shot from Cheddira. Saved Morocco’s third penalty. Getty -
Jordi Alba, 7 - Gave the ball away which led to Morocco’s best chance of the first half. Up against tactically disciplined opponents who limited his advances. EPA -
Aymeric Laporte, 8 - Defended well. Key header away in a spell of Moroccan pressure on 43. Booked on 76. Had a free header on 95 minutes and got a touch to stop a Moroccan chance on goal. AFP -
Rodri, 8 - The Manchester City defender and his club teammate Laporte completed more passes than the entire Morocco team. Little got past them, but when they were beaten Morocco had three solid chances. AFP -
Marcos Llorente, 6 - Not usually a right back, it showed too often in front of the predominantly Moroccan contingent of the 44,667 present. AFP -
Sergio Busquets, 6 - Spain had 81% of possession but while Busquets normally has one of the highest involvement rates, Morocco squeezed him and his 57 touches (after 90 minutes) compared badly to 168 for Rodri and 149 for Laporte immediately behind him. 120th minute shot blocked as he pushed forward. Had his penalty, Spain’s third, saved. AFP -
Pedri, 6 - Difficult to advance against the tenacious Amrabat as Spain went to extra time for the fifth successive time in a major tournament. EPA -
Gavi, 6 - The youngest player to start a knock-out game at the World Cup since Pele, his 25th minute shot was pushed on to the bar – though it was offside. AFP -
Dani Olmo, 5 - Played in an attack which only had one shot on target in the first half, the lowest ever for Spain in a World Cup match. He made it two on 54 with a strike on target from a tight angle. His 94th minute free-kick was goal-bound and well saved. Reuters -
Marco Asensio, 5 - Smashed a shot into the side netting after a brilliant run to beat the offside trap. And that was about it against a highly competent defence. AFP -
Ferran Torres, 5 - Nutmegged the excellent Mazraoui after 47 and won a free-kick when pulled back. No shots, let alone on target and no key balls as Spain were stifled by their neighbours. AP -
SUBS: Carlos Soler, 6 - On for Gavi on 63. Whipped a 90th minute free-kick in. Took Spain’s second penalty - poor and saved. AFP -
Alvaro Morata, 5 - On for Asensio after 63. Ran into the Morocco box on 69. Struck a shot across goal on 81. Poor header in 90th minute from a Soler cross. Couldn’t find a final pass in a 116th minute attack. AP -
Nico William, 5 - On for Torres after 75. Lively. Set up Morata with a shot. Then brought off himself. AP -
Alejandro Balde, 6 - On for Alba after 97. Shot blocked two minutes later. EPA -
Ansu Fati, 6 - On for Olmo on 97. Brought energy to Spain’s attack. AFP -
Pablo Sarabia, 6 - On for Williams after 118 and hit a very good ball in – then hit the post with his own shot after 123 minutes, the last play of the game. Missed Spain’s first penalty. Getty
On Tuesday, Regragui made his own slice of history, becoming the first African manager – he represented Morocco between 2001 and 2009 – to guide a team to the last eight of a World Cup.
“I don’t care because I fight to make it not about nationality, to make it not about passports," said Regragui, whose squad celebrated the win on the pitch by unfurling a Palestine flag. "You have the competence – you can do it, or not. For me it’s not about being Arabic or African.
“I am an ambitious coach and I try to give this to my players. Maybe when I am an old man, I will see behind me and be proud.”
On Morocco’s incredible support, both in Doha and around the world, Regragui said: "I think it is impossible to do this without these fans. A lot of fans come to Qatar to support the team and all countries, from America to Europe to Morocco. They love their country and I can tell them I need them for the quarter-final to make history.
"I am very proud of my fans, my people and Arabic people, because I think you have Qatari people, maybe Algerian people, Tunisian people, Arabic people and African people, you have a lot countries behind our backs to make history."
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Moroccan supporters in Paris celebrate after their team advanced to the quarter-finals of the tournament. EPA -
A young man is thrown in the air by Moroccan supporters as part of celebrations in Milan, Italy. AP -
People celebrate at Msheireb Metro Station in Doha, Qatar, after Morocco beat Spain in a penalty shootout at the Fifa World Cup on Tuesday. Getty -
Thousands gather in Rabat, Morocco, to celebrate. AP -
Moroccan fans in Marseille party after their team's penalty shoot-out win at the World Cup in Qatar. AP -
Moroccan fans celebrate in La Ramblas, Spain. Reuters -
Moroccans party on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris. EPA -
Celebrations in Rabat, Morocco. AP -
Moroccan celebrations in Barcelona. AP
Meanwhile, Spain manager Luis Enrique would not be drawn on his future with the national team in the aftermath of another World Cup last-16 exit on penalties.
Spain were knocked out of the 2018 tournament in similar fashion by hosts Russia, while they were also eliminated from last year’s Euro 2020 on spot-kicks – in the semi-final by eventual champions Italy.
Speaking on Tuesday night, Luis Enrique, who is now out of contract, said: “This is not the right time. It’s not relevant and it’s not important.
“My contract is going to end, but as you know I am very happy with the national team and the federation. I’ve always had great support from [sporting director Jose] Molina.
“I would always carry on, but of course we need to think about what is best for me and what is best for the national team.”
