The children of the diaspora dance happily regardless of Ronaldo’s tears and scrutinize a bright future which, after allowing Morocco to settle ancient and modern accounts with Spain and Portugal, also gives the opportunity to face France with a hard face but with a light heart , of which it was a protectorate for almost half a century.
Walid Regragui, an iron sergeant born in the Parisian banlieue, pampers his citizens of the world: 14 out of 26 players (and 9 of the 16 heroes of Al-Thumana) were born abroad but the Moroccan heart always beats strong. Especially his, with a destiny made up of favorable crossings. As a player he was discovered by Rudi Garcia, as a national coach he took advantage of Mazzarri’s no, he replaced Halilhodzic in August who had made an enemy of Ziyech. Skilled, prepared, determined he builds, like Bearzot in 1982, a war machine: all for one, one for all. Morocco coach almost by chance, 22/0 out of 32 in the list of the highest paid coaches, is the tip of the iceberg.
Qatar 2022 is a crossroads of almost unknown coaches who relaunch countries footballing on the margins. It’s the tale of football, of Tom Thumb’s redemption, as Regragui said with pleased irony. But to obscure the nabobs of the bench, often sent home with an exemption, were characters who have not gone unnoticed: from Moriyasuwho greeted the elimination in the round of 16 with a Japanese-style bow, a Cisse, Senegal coach with pigtails; from Arnoldwho celebrated Australia’s qualification with an inelegant gesture of the umbrella, impeccably Renardcoach of Saudi Arabia who has created a brand with his immaculate white shirts, superstitiously washed after each game.
Hajime Moriyasu he left an indelible mark by defeating Spain and Germany with clever moves, then Japan lost on penalties to Croatia. And he thanked Minamino for his availability who missed the penalty, he bowed on the pitch at 45 degrees to apologize and greet the fans, however proud of the second eighth in a row won. Another mentality, another culture, as the players and the public showed by cleaning up the changing rooms and stands after the match.
At the antipodes, not only geographical, the ways of Graham Arnold, the volcanic coach of Australia who, in addition to trivially celebrating the passage to the round of 16, forbade players to use their mobile phones after the victory against Denmark. At home he had been ‘caught’ while walking with his dog, despite the prohibitions, in times of covid. But his results were excellent: comeback knockout with France, victories over Tunisia and Denmark, honorable 1-2 with Messi’s Argentina.
Charismatic, magnetic face, Aliou Cisse he is the coach with the dreadlocks and black glasses (they compared him to the Californian rapper Snoop Dogg) who led Senegal to victory in the 2021 African Cup of Nations and to the round of 16 in Qatar with two victories and the surrender against the English.
Another ‘piacione’ is the French globetrotter Herve Renard, the only coach to have won two African Cups with different nations (Zambia and Ivory Coast), has now moved to the more profitable Saudi Arabia: he earns over one million euros, advertises detergents and the candid white shirts he changes and washes after every game. But his is not just looks: Saudi Arabia caused the first big surprise by beating Argentina. All these coaches are building the narrative of a tournament that, with stories of redemption and interesting characters, tries to move the spotlight from the gray area of trampled rights and the corruption scandal.
Source: Ansa
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
