Defiant and witty, Morocco coach wants more World Cup history

DOHA: Never mind the fireworks and deafening pop music that await at Al Bayt stadium - the real pre-match show for the World Cup semi-final between Morocco and France was provided on Tuesday (Dec 13) by Walid Regragui.

The 47-year-old coach of the first African and first Arab team to reach the last four of the World Cup took full advantage of the chance to address the world's football press in a Doha auditorium, the day before the clash with Didier Deschamps' team.

The Moroccan exuded pride, optimism, defiance and humour in a refreshing contrast to the usual drone of non-commital cliches that coaches ritually role out before big games.

He mocked the game's modern focus on possession, ridiculed the "Expected Goals" stats and laughed in the face of those who wrote of his team before they eliminated Spain and Portugal.

But along with the quickfire responses and talking points, there was a defiant refusal to play the role of the satisfied minnow and an evidently burning belief that his team can beat France and then do it again against Argentina or Croatia in Sunday's final.

"We want to win the World Cup," he said, "It's not just words, we have to go further, maybe we won't have another opportunity," he said.

"We are not the favourites but we are confident - maybe that makes me mad, crazy? A bit of crazy can be good," he said with a grin.

Having already dubbed his team as "the Rocky Balboa of this World Cup" after they knocked out Portugal in the quarter-finals, Regragui was not pulling any punches.

Asked whether his team will continue in the same style, which has seen opponents enjoy plenty of possession, he was unapologetic about his team's approach.

"We will play to our strengths ... this idea of possession, it is amazing how