Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Calling foreign born players is one of the keys to success Morocco from World Cup 2022.
Morocco stole attention with their brilliant performance at this year’s World Cup. Holding Croatia, beating Belgium, sending off Spain and toppling Portugal, Morocco will face holders France in the semi-finals.
Morocco has reaped successes thanks to the presence of ‘foreign’ players. Most of the 26 players entered for the 2022 World Cup were born outside Morocco.
There are 14 players born abroad. This amount is the most compared to other teams in the World Cup this time.
Quoted by Reuters, Morocco is the country with the largest migrant population in Europe.
The Moroccan Football Federation also monitors gridiron talent with blood from the North African country. Swift action was taken when there was a potential conflict of interest with other countries.
Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat defended the Dutch national team at junior level and now both carry the Atlas Lion banner at the World Cup.
“My parents are Moroccan and my grandparents are also Moroccan. Every time I go there I can’t put into words how I feel, it’s my home. The Netherlands is also my home, but Morocco is special,” he said Amrabat.
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Sofyan Amrabat defended the Netherlands at junior international level. (REUTERS/LEE SMITH)
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According to one of the Moroccan talent scouts in Belgium, Noureddine Moukrim, the approach was made early and there was never any coercion.
“There are honest discussions with the players and their families,” Moukrim said.
Morocco’s policy of introducing foreign-born players has received criticism from “native” players.
“Before the World Cup we had a lot of problems with players born in Europe and not in Morocco and many journalists were asking: ‘Why not play with players born in Morocco?'” said coach Walid Regragoui.
“Today we saw all the Moroccans [yang lahir di manapun] he is moroccan. When it comes to the national team he is willing to die, willing to fight. As a coach I was born in France, but nobody questions my heart for this country.”
The steps taken by Morocco are no stranger to football. Many countries have done the same thing, including Indonesia, including Irfan Bachdim and Elkan Baggott as national players even if they were born abroad.
(go/ptr)
