Many may call it an upset or a surprise, but the undeniable fact is that Morocco is one of the four semi-finalists in this World Cup. They are the first African nation to get this far. With players like Achraf Hakimi and Romain Saiss on the team, many forget that ‘The Wizard of Amsterdam’ Hakim Ziyech is also playing for Morocco.
Kylian Mbappé tweeted “ACHRAF HAKIMI.”, as soon as his PSG teammate’s penalty qualified Morocco for the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The tweet was accompanied by three emojis: A king’s crown, a heart with fingers, and a penguin. Why a penguin? Because a few seconds earlier, Hakimi celebrated his winning penalty by imitating the bird, a tribute to a celebration they often
Most teams at this year’s FIFA World Cup have talked about being like family, and the Moroccan team has truly been one. With their commitment to togetherness, strong support from their family members, and mutual respect among teammates, they have performed at the highest levels achieving success that no one anticipated.
Argentina’s story in this World Cup has been that of a transformation. From getting handed an unexpected defeat in the opening match against Saudi Arabia to being unbeaten and waltzing through opponents one after another, it feels like we are in for a grand finish!
Goalkeepers in football are often the most overlooked players on the pitch, but in FIFA World Cup 2022, we have seen some remarkable goalkeeping performances, including that of Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez and Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic. With the two teams set to meet, let us see how this battle of the goalkeepers will shape up.