AC Milan’s star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has stated that Morocco’s incredible run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup has not surprised him.
Few could have predicted the Atlas Lions’ trip to Qatar. They are the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals, where they will face reigning champions France on December 14.
While Morocco’s journey has taken many by surprise, Ibrahimovic has stated that he knew they were a strong team before the FIFA World Cup began. During a recent interview, the former Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain striker stated:
“I don’t think it’s a surprise because I knew they were good before the World Cup. Then obviously in the World Cup everything can happen.”
Ibrahimovic, who is currently recovering from a knee injury and hopes to be available for AC Milan in the second half of the 2022-23 club season, went on to say:
“That they reached the semifinal, maybe a little surprised, but remember it’s a good team, a good nation. And these surprises I think the people like; they enjoy because they want these things to happen so they get some kind of extra adrenaline.”
Morocco had an outstanding qualifying campaign ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Out of the 40 African teams competing, the Atlas Lions were the only ones to win all six of their group-stage matches. In those games, they scored 20 goals while conceding only one.
At the World Cup, Walid Regragui’s men with a commendable 0-0 draw against Croatia before going on to defeat Belgium 2-0. They qualified for the knockouts as group winners after defeating Canada 2-1. In the round of 16, they drew 0-0 after extra time against one of the tournament favourites, Spain. The Moroccans then prevailed 3-0 in the penalty shootout.
Then, in the quarterfinals, they defeated another pre-tournament favourite, Portugal, 1-0, thanks to Youssef En-Nesyri’s header. Morocco have conceded just two goals in 11 matches across their qualifying campaign and World Cup, one of which was an own goal.
France now awaits in what promises to be a high-octane encounter in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final four.
