They coincided in 2006-2007 within the Cantabrian staff, which that season completed tenth within the League The coach of Morocco and Argentina shared coaching and altering rooms however solely performed friendlies collectively If each attain the Final within the World Cup in Qatar they’d face two comparable methods however with a unique method to the sport
Walid Regragui, Morocco coach and Lionel Scaloni, Argentina coach, share a standard previous: Racing de Santander and a coach, Miguel Ángel Portugal, who had each underneath his command within the Cantabrian staff within the 2006-2007 season.
It was within the 2006-2007 season, at the moment Walid was 30 years previous and Scaloni 27. The former already knew that Racing needed to promote him (actually he went to Dijon to play in 2007) and Scaloni, an Argentine worldwide, arrived as a star signing .
Although they didn’t coincide in official matches, they did take part collectively in friendlies, at first of the season, and particularly in coaching.
Portugal was in control of each of them and remembers them properly. Of each their dedication to the staff stands out and the way attentive they had been to what he was saying: Regragui with curiosity to know the explanation for issues to study. Scaloni as a result of even then he learn the staff recreation properly and, in line with Portugal, he identified teaching methods.
“They had been very aggressive, one with extra high quality (Scaloni), and the opposite with rather less (Regragui). They performed virtually in the identical place, though they might additionally play as a winger or proper winger. The fact is that they had been each very skilled guys and dedicated,” he says.
A professionalism that they’ve been capable of transmit to the groups they lead:
Regragui’s Morocco has turn out to be the revelation staff. It is the primary time that an African staff has reached the semifinals of a World Cup, a milestone that has additionally been achieved in a really brief time. Just 4 months in the past the Moroccan staff didn’t actually have a coach.
Scaloni’s Argentina has solely misplaced one recreation, in opposition to Saudi Arabia initially of the World Cup, however the remainder of the matches have been a triumphant parade of just about three years sweeping wherever it went.
A season collectively of dedication and professionalism
In the season during which Racing de Santander coincided, they completed in tenth place. Scaloni performed 31 video games as an inside participant and a starter, Regragui already out, none as a result of he now not counted for the staff, even so he didn’t decrease his arms: “It was surprising to me {that a} participant in his scenario, who solely participated in pleasant matches, would dedicated a lot and was so interested by what we had been doing. Walid was very accountable, he took coaching very significantly, one thing that isn’t so regular, as a result of everybody in these conditions has a tough time. But he at all times had an excellent feeling and good humor, searching and asking questions on coaching. An important boy who I can solely have good phrases for”, says Portugal, who additionally had a great expertise with Scaloni.
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“He had a superior level as a participant, an Argentine worldwide, very accountable, very aggressive. He was already a coach on the pitch, he learn the sport to you with out a drawback. As a participant he was not a crack however he grew to become an incredible one who knew the best way to benefit from his conditioning elements “, he feedback.
Although fortune didn’t smile the identical on each of them. Regragui had the dangerous luck of getting injured in a Racing coaching session and, with a foul ankle, ending his development at a membership the place he solely performed 27 video games in three seasons. Scaloni solely spent one season in Santander. He was signed by Lazio the next 12 months.
Two totally different however comparable gamers who’re standing out within the World Cup as coaches.
“These two groups have roughly the identical system, they often play with 4-3-3. With a central midfielder above the central defenders who will get in, on the subject of protection, defensive assist. The deployment is analogous too The full-backs of Morocco go up loads with Achraf. Those of Argentina additionally with Molina. The pivots are very targeted, each Amrabat and Enzo Fernandez maintain their place loads. The midfielders go into assault. They are very comparable! What occurs is that Morocco with this technique leaves you the ball and closes, it varieties a wall of 1-4-5-1 and it is vitally tough to get into there, they’ve solely scored one purpose”, explains Portugal.
The identical system and two methods of taking part in from two coaches who know one another and have a look at one another with respect. “It is the greatness of soccer, two comparable methods however with totally different objectives. It is similar system however one assaults and the opposite defends. If they face one another, we’ll see a gorgeous present,” says Portugal.
If each win their respective semifinal matches (Morocco in opposition to France, Argentina in opposition to Croatia), 16 years later the World Cup Final will face two teammates who used to hang around with the staff on the streets of Santander: “That Racing was a really dedicated staff they usually had been good boys, the reality is that all of us obtained alongside very properly”, concludes Portugal.