By Victor Kanayo
Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario de Lima has expressed his support for the Atlas Lions of Morocco to win the ongoing 2022 World Cup.
The defiant Moroccan team are billed to face defending champions France in the semi-final clash on Wednesday December 14.
This is after they became the first African team to reach the semifinal stage in the tournament’s history when they beat Portugal 1-0 at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.
Walid Regragui’s side went through the group stages unbeaten and conceded just one goal in their opening three matches, before going on to keep another two clean sheets against Spain and their Iberian neighbours.
With Brazil now out of the competition, Ronaldo, revealed that he was supporting Morocco at the World Cup.
“I would like them to win the World Cup. Everything is fantastic, how they attack, how they defend, how they are united,” Ronaldo told Gazetto de Los Sport.
And I’m enchanted by the joy they have given their people and all of Africa, it’s a joy that only football can give.”
Morocco will face Morocco in the semi-final on Wednesday at the Al Bayt Stadium.
France will go into World Cup semi-final against Morocco with the utmost respect for their giant-killing opponents as the defending champions prepare for a hostile reception from the Maghreb side’s supporters.
The French fans will be largely outnumbered by the Morocco supporters at the Al Bayt stadium and Les Bleus know that they will be jeered and whistled throughout.
“They’re benefiting from a huge support, I’ve seen this and my observers have told me about. We know it’s going to be extremely noisy, it’s part of the context and we’ll have to be ready for it,” France coach Didier Deschamps told a news conference on Tuesday.
“Good for them. We have to prepare for the game, but also for the environment of the game.”
Captain Hugo Lloris said: “We’re going to have to be ready for the noise”.
The first semi-final match takes place on Tuesday night.
