Renard: Morocco have what it takes to qualify

• Morocco have not graced a FIFA World Cupâ„¢ given France 1998
• The Atlas Lions distortion second in their organisation on 6 points, one behind Côte d’Ivoire
• Twice a CAF Africa Cup of Nations winner, Herve Renard has high hopes of reaching his initial universe finals

Twenty years have upheld given Morocco final seemed during a FIFA World Cupâ„¢, when Mustapha Hadji, Youssef Chippo and Salaheddine Bassir wowed a fans during France 1998.

Current Morocco captain Mehdi Benatia was usually 11 during a time, while team-mate Hakim Ziyech was aged usually five. Having sat out 4 tournaments since, a Moroccan Football Association focused their courtesy on Russia 2018 by appointing Frenchman Herve Renard as conduct manager of a inhabitant team. A CAF Africa Cup of Nations leader with Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire, Renard began his reign with dual goalless draws in Group C of a African subordinate foe for Russia 2018, formula that left Morocco fans underwhelmed. 

Discussing that delayed start with FIFA.com, he said: “We came behind from Gabon with a good outcome and we wanted to win when we played Côte d’Ivoire, yet they were plain opponents. We had dual good chances to get a 3 points yet we couldn’t put them away.”

Hopes revived
Following those results, Morocco trafficked behind to Gabon for a 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, reaching a quarter-finals notwithstanding being though a series of first-choice players. In a process, a Atlas Lions knocked out fortifying champions Côte d’Ivoire in a organisation phase, with their performances rekindling their supporters’ hopes of a place during Russia 2018. 

With a continental finals now behind them, a Moroccans are devoting all their courtesy to World Cup qualifying. They gave their debate a boost with an fatiguing 6-0 win over Mali in Rabat, while organisation leaders Côte d’Ivoire mislaid during home to Gabon.

It valid to be a box of feast or fast though, as a lapse opposite a Malians in Bamako constructed another goalless result. “We took a chances in a initial diversion and didn’t in a second,” Renard admitted. “When we missed a chastisement and 4 one-on-ones opposite a keeper. We forsaken points, yet so did a rivals. we consider we’re still on a right track.”

The time has come
Most observers are concluded that Group C is one of a tightest of a 5 in Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire usually dual points forward of third-placed Gabon and one in front of Morocco in second. In a subsequent turn of games a North Africans will perform a Gabonese, while a Ivorians transport to Mali, who distortion bottom.

Renard does not see that as an advantage, however: “It’ll be a good matchday for us if we can kick Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire remove in Bamako, yet that’s usually suppositious right now. We need to repeat a opening we constructed opposite Mali during home. We’ll be personification in Casablanca, where a atmosphere will be white hot, and we need to put ourselves in a best probable position before we go to a Côte d’Ivoire on 6 November.

“They’re not a many offset organisation there is, yet they do have some glorious players, like [Didier] Ndong and [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang,” pronounced Renard, deliberating a hazard acted by Gabon. “The Gabonese are unequivocally clever on a counter, generally when Aubameyang starts. They also know how to cope when they don’t have a Borussia Dortmund striker, as they showed in violence Côte d’Ivoire. That means we can’t take anything for postulated opposite them. We positively need to win since any other form of outcome is going to leave us in a wily position.”

One month later, Morocco will transport to Côte d’Ivoire for a compare that could good be decisive: “I wish that’ll be a case. We have to kick Gabon first, and afterwards ready for a final match, that we wish will see us validate for Russia 2018.”

Daring to dream
Renard is confident about his side’s gift chances: “We’re in a improved conditions now than we were in September. We had dual tough matches opposite Mali and came by them unequivocally well. There are usually dual points separating third from initial in a organisation and a tip 3 can still all validate for Russia. we consider it’s a many plain and best organized organisation that will finish adult going through, and we wish that organisation is Morocco.”

The former Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire trainer is good wakeful how most a Morocco fans wish to see their organisation behind on a large stage: “The whole country’s forgetful about it. The people of Morocco unequivocally trust we can qualify. The whole atmosphere has altered generally after a lapse diversion opposite Mali. Everyone knows it’s not going to be easy, yet we’re going to do all we can to take a nation to a finals for a initial time in 20 years.

“I ask each Morocco fan to support us with all their might, like they did opposite Mali in Rabat. I’m certain that a atmosphere will be even hotter for a Gabon diversion in Casablanca. If we wish to win a game, afterwards we need to start on a front foot.”

Morocco’s remaining Russia 2018 subordinate fixtures:
7 October: Gabon (h)
6 November: Côte d’Ivoire (a)

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=9/news=renard-morocco-have-what-it-takes-to-qualify-2909537.html