BUY UZBEKISTAN 2024 TICKETS
It was the streak that shook a sport. The number was unimaginable; its authors even more so.
Calcio had been deep in decay. Italy had been humiliated by group-stage elimination at South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014, and devastated by failure to reach the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time in 60 years. A 1-1 draw with Ukraine in Genoa in October 2018 left La Nazionale having won only one of their last 10 games.
Then, suddenly, they clicked. Roberto Mancini’s gladiators – Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giorgio Chiellini, Nicolo Barella, Marco Verratti, Federico Chiesa and Co – proved unconquerable. The Azzurri made it 10 matches unbeaten, then 20, and then broke their personal best of 30, set by Vittorio Pozzo’s back-to-back world champions in 1939.
Italy moved one shy of the 35-game world record, which Brazil had set in 1996 and Spain had equalled in 2009, by overcoming England in the UEFA EURO final in 2021, before breaking it two months later. The run was finally ended, at a staggering 37 games, when La Roja won 2-1 in Milan.
Spain recently snapped another sequence – one longer and even more ludicrous. It wasn’t set by a court colossus like Argentina, Brazil or Portugal, but by a side few feared when it began in November 2022.
Yet, despite facing Argentina twice, Italy twice, France and IR Iran among others, Morocco implausibly went 50 matches undefeated until Adolfito inspired Spain to a 4-2 victory in Rabat last week. That run was indebted to Soufian Charraoui, who finished as the top scorer as Hicham Dguig’s charges conquered the CAF Futsal AFCON in exhilarating style in April and headlined a revenge-seizing 4-1 reverse of Spain two days after their unblemished cycle crashed.
The 27-year-old chats to FIFA about his and Morocco’s form, the “crazy” passion for futsal in the country, facing Portugal and his belief they can win Uzbekistan 2024.Despite playing Argentina twice, Italy twice, France, Iran and others, Morocco recently had their unbeaten run ended at a truly remarkable 50 games. What do you think of that?
Soufian Charraoui: I think it was unbelievable. We weren’t playing against smaller teams but against Iran, Argentina, Italy, France. It was really special. We train a lot, we work really hard. The coach prepares us for every single game. We want to win every single game. But of course you never think you’re going to go 50 games without losing. It’s hard to believe we made that happen. The coach started something 10, 15 years ago. We suffered a great deal to get to where we are now. The run was down to all the hard work that has been put in over a long period. I think in these last couple of years we’ve really shown what we can do. We have a great team with great players – for me, the best set of players in the world – and the number-one coach in the world. We’re very excited for this World Cup.
What’s Hicham Dguig like to work with?
He’s an amazing, amazing man. We have learned a lot from him and continue to learn from him. He gets the best out of us. Everyone has a lot of respect for him and our other coaches. We are like his children. We travel a lot, we suffer a lot, we go long spells without seeing our family, so he is like a father for us. We’re a big family.
What do you think of Soufiane El Mesrar?
‘El Capitano’! He’s an amazing player, an amazing person. The first time I got into the Morocco squad, he spent a lot of time talking to me. I really appreciated that. He’s always talking to the younger players, giving them advice. Everyone has a lot of respect for him. He has a lot of experience. This will be his fourth World Cup. On the court, he’s an excellent player, he makes a big difference in games and he’s crucial for Morocco.
Can you tell us about the passion for futsal in Morocco?
It’s absolutely crazy. In Brazil, everyone loves futsal, everyone loves their players. It’s now the same in Morocco. Obviously I’m Moroccan, but I really believe we have the best support in the world. When we’re at the airport, in training sessions, walking around on the streets, everyone wants to take a picture with every player, the coach. Moroccans are very passion about every sport. With futsal, we went 50 games unbeaten, we have this beautiful playing style, a lot of great players, a great coach. It’s made people crazy about us. It’s really special to us.You were the top scorer at the Futsal AFCON, have been in outstanding form thereafter, headlined the 4-1 win over Spain last week. How happy are you on a personal level?
I think I’m in the best shape of my life. I was playing in the LNFS in Spain. I made the choice to come back to Morocco because I wanted to train with my coach every week. For me it was the best choice of my life. I train with my coach all the time, talk to him a lot. I feel amazing. I was very happy with my performances at the African championship and against Spain. I hope I can maintain this level and help the team at the World Cup. I hope to be a part of it. It would be my first World Cup, so that is extra special. I’m very excited.
How much of a blow was it losing Youssef Jouad and Bilal Bakkali to injury?
Youssef Jouad and Bilal Bakkali are key players for us. They are very important players and, for me, two of the best in the world in their positions. They could play for any club in the world. It’s very hard for us because we need them, but we have faith. We believe everything happens for a reason. They’re not with us on the court, but they’re in our hearts and we will fight for them. We have other great players who are stepping up now. We beat Spain, one of the best teams in the world, without them. They are with us in the training centre, we see them every day, and they will be in our hearts for every second we play at the World Cup. We feel them with us.
You said after the AFCON that you believed Morocco could win Uzbekistan 2024. Is that still the case?
Of course. I think we have the best team in the world and the best coach in the world. Winning a World Cup is obviously not easy. You have Spain, Brazil, Portugal, Kazakhstan. I think eight or nine teams could win this World Cup. At the last World Cup, the team made history. We reached the quarter-finals and played an incredible match against Brazil. We lost 1-0, it was really close. I think the team has improved so much since then. When you get to the knockout phase of a World Cup, if you make a little mistake, the best teams will punish you. One mistake could knock you out. We’ve talked about this, we’re going to do everything to remain concentrated and not make mistakes. We’re not underestimating how difficult it will be to win the World Cup, but we’ll do everything to finish first in our group and then get the title. I believe we can do it.
Morocco will face Portugal in the group stage. What do you think of this Portugal team?
They’re an incredible team. They have a very good coach. They have so many amazing players. I think every player in their squad is very good. They don’t have a weakness. Tactically they are very strong, they’re very strong defensively, they have a lot of experience. They have speed, skill, movement, excellent finishing. I really like the way they play. Their style is very fun to watch. They remind me a little bit of Morocco. I like their country very much. I think Portugal against Morocco will be an amazing game for the fans.
Which Portugal player are you most impressed by?
They have a lot of great players. I like Zicky a lot. He’s only young, but he’s already done a lot to help Portugal. He’s a very dangerous player.
Who do you regard as Morocco’s biggest rivals for the title?
I think there’s very little between Brazil, Spain and Portugal. If I have to choose one, I’ll say Portugal.
Who do you rate as the best three players in the world right now?
Pito of course. He’s an outstanding player. Ferrao was always one of the best players before his injury. Now he’s back and I’d have him in the top three. You could name a lot of players for the third spot, but I’ll go with Zicky.
Finally, do you take inspiration from what Morocco achieved at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar?
It was unbelievable. We talk a lot about it. It showed that all the hard work they put in, all the belief they had was worth it. It’s something we take a lot of inspiration from. It was very special for all Moroccans. Now we want to do something very special for all the Moroccans who gives us this amazing support. I think what the football did a couple of years ago in Qatar will help us a lot at this World Cup.
source
کلاس یوس