Rocky Balboa Was Our Inspiration—Morocco Coach

Is there a greater muse than Rocky Balboa from the Sylvester Stallone hit movie, ‘Rocky’ considering it has seen itself become a huge inspiration to many football managers like the Morocco coach in their team talks?

Certainly not, as the likes of Jurgen Klopp have all drawn parallels from the film character and his journey towards becoming a star in the game, and with Morocco being victorious against Portugal to reach the semi-final, Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa might live long to inspire legends.

Walid Regragui, the coach of Morocco, has provided an explanation for his team’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in Saturday’s 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal match in Qatar.

Regragui credited “hard work” for his team’s victory over Portugal at the Al Thumama Stadium.

Having become the first ever African nation to get to the World Cup semifinals, the Atlas Lions, he claimed, make Morocco “the Rocky Balboa of this World Cup.”

Morocco only needed Youssef En-first-half Nesyri’s header to move to the round of 16, when they will take on World Cup champions France on Wednesday.

“When you watch Rocky, you want to support Rocky Balboa because of his hard work and commitment and I think we’re the Rocky Balboa of this World Cup,” Regragui told reporters at his post-match press conference.

“We are becoming the team that everyone loves at this World Cup because we are showing that even if you don’t have as much talent, if you show that desire, heart and belief, you can achieve.

“I am sure many of you will say this is a miracle, but we have won without conceding against Belgium, Spain, and Portugal, and that’s the result of hard work.”

He added:

“We can dream, why shouldn’t we dream about winning the World Cup?”