The semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar between France and Morocco are not just sporting explosiveness. The Paris police brace themselves for a hot night.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui spotted in Corbeil-Essonnes on the shore of His The Light of the World. His captain Romain Saiss and winger Sofiane Boufal also have a French birthplace on their passport.
Only twelve players are from Morocco
Only twelve players of the sensational team of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are originally from the North African country. Abdelhamid Sabiri even played in the German U21 team. But before the World Cup semi-final against France (December 14, 2022, 8 p.m., in the audio stream at sportschau.de), national pride could not be greater.
Regragui: “An honour“To have been born in France
“Nobody can take my heart from my country. Every Moroccan is a Moroccan“, said Regragui, who also stressed that for him it was “an honour” is to have been born in France.
Police in Paris on heightened alert
Not everyone deals with the situation as relaxed as the 47-year-old success coach. Before the duel in the Al-Bayt stadium in Al-Khor, the police in Paris are on high alert.
Thousands of police officers are to be mobilized. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that most of these will be used in the greater Paris area. The boulevard Champs Elyseeswhere thousands of fans had previously celebrated the progress of both teams, should be freely accessible.
Rampage after the quarterfinals
After their victories in the quarterfinals, French and Moroccan supporters also celebrated together in the streets, but there was also rioting. More than 100 North African fans were arrested in the Paris area for damaging property and violence against law enforcement officials. There were some unpleasant scenes in other European cities as well.
The first mandatory football game of both nations
“That should not happen. Football should be a celebration“, said Regragui at the press conference before the semifinals on Tuesday (13.12.2022) in Doha.
But the first mandatory football game of both nations does not only hold sporting explosiveness. In 1912, Morocco lost its independence through the protectorate treaty signed by the Sultan with France, which the country only regained agonizingly long 44 years later. French became the official language in all administrative structures and political bodies, and the population’s aversion to the colonial power was great.
Reservations also in France
In France, too, there were and are reservations. The right-wing party National Rally (RN) diligently collected votes by stirring up resentment against people with North African roots.
Deschamps: “It’s a football game“
The World Cup semi-finalists want nothing to do with that. “It’s a football game, even if there is a history between our two countries“said France coach Didier Deschamps.
Superstar Kylian Mbappé and Moroccan Achraf Hakimi play together in Paris St Germain – they are friends.
And Regragui made it clear: “If we don’t make it, we will congratulate France and support them in the final.”