Achraf Hakimi answered the call on the pitch as, to a man, his team had done before. Off it, Walid Regragui did likewise. Literally.
“It’s extraordinary for a Moroccan to receive that call,” said the manager, moments after taking congratulations by phone from the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI.
“Extraordinary” pretty much summed up what had transpired at Education City Stadium and Morocco’s World Cup thus far. The North Africans had overcome Spain on penalties, a display of strength both in body and mind, to become the first Arab team to reach the quarter-finals of football’s showpiece tournament.
No wonder Regragui was soon chatting with the Moroccan monarch.
“He always encourages us, and he gives us advice and calls on us to give our all,” Regragui said. “His message is always the same: he is proud of the players, and he is proud of us.
“And as a result we want to go even further and do even better the next time.”
Doing even better would require some effort. But these Moroccans deal in endeavour, in a fortitude and a fearlessness that has carried them further in Doha than most anticipated.
On Tuesday night, noise pulsating around Education City, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, better known as "Bono", was inspired. Hakimi impudent. Bono saved two of Spain’s spot-kicks; Hakimi dinked the settler audaciously.
But before them, throughout the previous 120 minutes and the tournament’s two-and-a-half weeks, Morocco have been immense. Against Spain, Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi were tireless and tenacious in the middle, in the middle of everywhere, really; Romain Saiss a rock in central defence alongside the equally resolute Nayef Aguerd; Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui each outstanding at full-back. Or the full length of their respective flanks.
Spain, for all their 77 per cent possession and 1,000-plus passes, had a solitary shot on goal. Morocco had plugged the gaps, pushed back the advancing Spaniards and rendered them redundant. They even had the clearer opportunities to seal it before the lottery of a shoot-out.
Post-match, Luis Enrique, the beaten Spain manager, singled out Ounahi – “the No 8” – because he knew already all about Amrabat.
“He didn’t stop running,” Enrique said. “He must be feeling destroyed.”
You could not fault Ounahi if he was. The entire team, to be fair. For Morocco’s might does take root in their pride in their shirt, their collective commitment to their cause. In their flag, their country, their people.
“For a national team like ours, the adrenalin and the pressure is so intense,” Regragui said afterwards. “You want to go down in history, but that takes up a lot of energy.
“When you have a heart, energy and love,” he added, “you win matches.”
That should not mask Morocco’s considerable talent, though. They are not among the final eight sides at a World Cup purely on conviction alone. They are tactically disciplined, organised to an extent that belies Regragui’s few months in the job – they have conceded once all tournament: Aguerd's own goal in the win against Canada – and have the technical quality to trouble the best teams in Qatar.
Hakimi is a star among a sea of them at Paris Saint-Germain; Mazraoui plies his trade with Bayern Munich. Hakim Ziyech, another example of Regragui’s man-management that is married to obvious tactical acumen, for Chelsea of the Premier League. Amrabat in Serie A, with Fiorentina. Bono and striker Youssef En-Nesyri, another success story of this World Cup, with Spain’s Sevilla.
Morocco v Spain player 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
In beating the Spanish, Morocco proved the group-stage draw with 2018 runners-up Croatia, and the victory against world No 2 Belgium, were no flukes. This was no minnow having their day while their opponents were off. Add the 2010 world champions to the list. A penny for Portugal’s thoughts?
These are unprecedented times, for Morocco and for the Arab footballing world who in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday united behind this most united of sides. In the press conference following Spain, a journalist took the microphone, but announced he did not have a question.
Speaking directly to Regragui and Bono, the reporter said: “I just want to thank you because today 40 million people are happy. I’m speaking with tears in my eyes because you have made Moroccan history.”
Arab history, as well. Before winger Sofiane Boufal stepped out of the stadium to a cacophony of cheers and chants, to the incessant sound of car horns blaring all around Doha long into the night, he shared the victory with those who had evidently embraced it as if one of their own.
“Thanks to all the Moroccans all over the world for their support, to all Arab people, to all Muslim people,” Boufal said. “This win belongs to you.”
And it genuinely felt it. A World Cup dominated on the pitch by Mbappe and Messi – and now by Morocco, too.
