DOHA: Morocco trainer Walid Regragui stated the Atlas Lions are in a position to “aim for the sky” after attaining the World Cup knockout rounds for the primary time in 36 years on Thursday.
The North Africans sealed their passage into the final 16 with a 2–1 win over Canada which noticed them end forward of Croatia on best of Group F.
Regragui stated his group’s efficiency within the first section used to be all the way down to a choice to “change the mindset” of Morocco’s nationwide group, which had now not complicated to the knockout rounds because the 1986 finals previous to arriving in Qatar.
Now France-born former Morocco global Regragui says the group is dreaming of going additional than the final 16 — even successful the match.
“We set ourselves an objective — we said we wanted to give everything we’ve got and get out of the group stages. We can tick that box now,” Regragui stated.
“So why not aim for the sky? We needed to change and we needed to change our mentality. We’re not going to stop here. We’re going to respect every opponent. But we are going to be very difficult opponents. So why not dream about lifting that trophy?
“We know that African groups wish to set themselves goals. We drew with Croatia. We beat Belgium. We beat Canada. We’re sensible, however we all know what we are value. We’ll take it one sport at a time. .. But if we are 100% and combating are compatible we are in a position to good things.”
Regragui, who only took over as Morocco coach in August after the dismissal of predecessor Vahid Halilhodzic, said he had been determined to model Morocco’s mental approach on European and South American teams at the World Cup.
“Right from the start I’ve been speaking about converting our mindset,” Regragui said. “We did not come right here simply to play and say ‘We virtually certified (for the final 16)’.
“We want to play our own game, but we also need to get the results and do as all European or South American teams do. We need to emulate them. I don’t see any teams here that have just come to play. They come with a plan.
“So there’s the mentality exchange. We did not wish to fall prey to this negativity. The thought is to stick sturdy. We wish to reproduction the play of European groups, with our personal values. That’s what I attempted to do these days. ”
The North Africans sealed their passage into the final 16 with a 2–1 win over Canada which noticed them end forward of Croatia on best of Group F.
Regragui stated his group’s efficiency within the first section used to be all the way down to a choice to “change the mindset” of Morocco’s nationwide group, which had now not complicated to the knockout rounds because the 1986 finals previous to arriving in Qatar.
Now France-born former Morocco global Regragui says the group is dreaming of going additional than the final 16 — even successful the match.
“We set ourselves an objective — we said we wanted to give everything we’ve got and get out of the group stages. We can tick that box now,” Regragui stated.
“So why not aim for the sky? We needed to change and we needed to change our mentality. We’re not going to stop here. We’re going to respect every opponent. But we are going to be very difficult opponents. So why not dream about lifting that trophy?
“We know that African groups wish to set themselves goals. We drew with Croatia. We beat Belgium. We beat Canada. We’re sensible, however we all know what we are value. We’ll take it one sport at a time. .. But if we are 100% and combating are compatible we are in a position to good things.”
Regragui, who only took over as Morocco coach in August after the dismissal of predecessor Vahid Halilhodzic, said he had been determined to model Morocco’s mental approach on European and South American teams at the World Cup.
“Right from the start I’ve been speaking about converting our mindset,” Regragui said. “We did not come right here simply to play and say ‘We virtually certified (for the final 16)’.
“We want to play our own game, but we also need to get the results and do as all European or South American teams do. We need to emulate them. I don’t see any teams here that have just come to play. They come with a plan.
“So there’s the mentality exchange. We did not wish to fall prey to this negativity. The thought is to stick sturdy. We wish to reproduction the play of European groups, with our personal values. That’s what I attempted to do these days. ”