Atlas Lions on a march

• Morocco behind during a World Cup following a 20-year absence
  
• Atlas Lions have risen to their top position in a FIFA Ranking given 2008
  
• Head manager Herve Renard has masterminded a turnaround in fortunes

Saturday 11 Nov 2017 will go down as a special day in a story of Moroccan football. It was on this date that a Atlas Lions clinched their place during a FIFA World Cup™ after 20 years of frustration, interjection to a 2-0 win over Côte d’Ivoire.

The feat also saw a Moroccan inhabitant organisation stand 8 places in November’s FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, with a nation now occupying a top position given 2008.

Morocco’s prohibited streak
Morocco’s excellent new form owes most to a tough work put in underneath conduct manager Herve Renard, who took assign of a organisation following spells with Ghana, as partner to Claude Le Roy, and Zambia. Renard is also a two-time leader of a CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with both a Chipolopolo and Côte d’Ivoire.

This latest rebound in a ranking comes on a behind of a array of considerable results, including a 6-0 win over Mali and a Khaled Boutaib-inspired delight opposite Gabon. Then there was a aforementioned success divided to Côte d’Ivoire, that requisitioned Mehdi Benatia and his team-mates’ place during Russia 2018. 

QUALIFIED!
Congratulations, Morocco! They’re streamer behind to a #WorldCup for a initial time given 1998! #WCQ pic.twitter.com/PyEC4xqcOE

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 11, 2017

Three pivotal formula in a Russia 2018 gift campaign

• Morocco 6-0 Mali (1 Sep 2017)
• Morocco 3-0 Gabon (7 Oct 2017)
• Côte d’Ivoire 0-2 Morocco (11 Nov 2017)

In a issue of a feat over Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan, Renard said: “My categorical aim with Morocco was to validate for a World Cup. We were a prolonged approach off this turn dual years ago but, interjection to a manners that we’ve set and a good bargain between a players, we’ve managed to make genuine swell on a pitch.”

Making a symbol during a finals
The French coach’s thoughts have now incited to a daunting plea that lies forward for a Atlas Lions in Russia. Morocco have been drawn in a same organisation as IR Iran, Portugal and Spain, and they know that some-more certain formula will see them arise even serve adult a FIFA Ranking.

Following a pull in Moscow, Herve Renard told FIFA.com: “After a 20-year absence, a Moroccan organisation has landed in a wily group. We know that standards are high during a World Cup. We’re going to play opposite a European champions and Spain – who were a organisation to equivocate from a second pot – not to discuss Iran too.”

“We need to concentration on subordinate for a Round of 16, and to not be confident with simply holding part. In 1986, Morocco kick Portugal. We have to go into a contest with integrity and confidence.”

Renard’s Morocco side have all a required collection to make a symbol in Russia, including a unaffected counterclaim that did not concur a singular idea in a final gift turn and a inclusive conflict that netted 11 times in 6 matches.

Morocco’s fixtures in Russia

• Morocco-Iran (15 June, Saint Petersburg Stadium, 18:00 internal time)
• Portugal-Morocco (20 June, Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, 15:00 internal time)
• Spain-Morocco (25 June, Kaliningrad Stadium, 20:00 internal time)

Group B
Interactive Team Profiles
Portugal – https://t.co/981oAFV1Mc
Spain – https://t.co/GqszldP8LS
Morocco – https://t.co/6IzYhOzUO0
IR Iran – https://t.co/3VMkdU5jTL#WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/JhwBJIFHds

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2017

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/news/y=2017/m=12/news=atlas-lions-on-the-march-2922953.html