MOROCCO might be the underdogs but they have already got the makings of a superstar squad on and off the pitch.
And after French striker Kylian Mbappe’s uncontrolled laughter at the site of Three Lions captain Harry Kane missing a crucial penalty, most of England will be behind them.
The North African side will be looking to their answer to David Beckham, Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi, to help them see off France in the semi-finals.
The 24-year-old captured the world’s attention with his winning penalty which knocked Spain out of the World Cup last week.
Hakimi is married to Hiba Abouk, 36, described as one of the world’s most beautiful actresses.
The glamorous couple appeared on the front of Vogue Arabia in October.
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His cleaner mum and street fruit seller dad emigrated from Morocco to Madrid — where Achraf was born — for a better life.
Achraf said in 2020: “We come from a low-income family that struggled to make ends meet.
“Today, I fight for them every day. They gave up their lives for me.
“They took many things away from my brothers in order for me to succeed.”
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Hakimi played for local team CD Colonia Ofigevi before Real Madrid offered him a trial when he was seven.
He played his debut for them aged 18, before signing with Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan.
He was then sold to Inter Milan for £35million before transferring to PSG for £60million and is now one of the top paid footballers, taking home more than £1million each month.
In July 2018 he met Hiba and they married two years ago.
First son Amin was born in February 2020 and another boy this year.
Like Beckham, Hakimi was a young dad at 22, and says he has no expectation for his sons to follow in his footballing footsteps.
Morocco — known as the Atlas Lions — are the first African and first Arab team to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Captain Romain Saiss is married to Arab Idol popstar Salma Rachid.
Team mates Hakim Ziyech, Ilias Chair, and Anass Zaroury all play for British clubs — Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Burnley.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
