Morocco has sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup – and the injured Schalke player Amine Harit is both proud and sad about this coup.
Morocco celebrated, many German cities celebrated – and Amine Harit was also jubilant about Morocco’s semi-final appearance at the World Cup in Qatar. “If an African team can reach the semi-finals, why not the final?” exulted Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui after the bravely fought 1-0 against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portuguese: “We have the right to dream. It’s not written anywhere that a European or South American team has to win the World Cup!”
On Wednesday (8 p.m./ZDF), the ultimate barometer awaits in the semi-finals with former colonial power France. But fear? Not for the Moroccans! “See you soon, my friend,” wrote ex-Dortmund man Achraf Hakimi to his Paris clubmate Kylian Mbappe full of anticipation.
Another, however, was rejoicing in the distance – and mourning at the same time. Amine Harit, the loaned professional of FC Schalke 04, followed the match in front of the television. His immediate reaction after the quarter-final was to post messages with emojis on the social networks. One showed three crying smileys and four hearts. An expression of sadness and pride at the same time. Because Harit could also have been on the pitch for this match. But as we all know, things turned out differently.
Injury of the Schalke player shocked
In mid-November, Amine Harit’s World Cup dreams were over. The midfielder, who was loaned from FC Schalke 04 to Olympique Marseille, injured his knee in the match against AS Monaco. He lay on the pitch screaming, holding his right leg. A short time later, the diagnosis was clear: a torn cruciate ligament and a break of several months. The Moroccan’s World Cup dream was shattered shortly before the start of the tournament in Qatar. Harit himself had expressed his disappointment at the time: “Apart from the physical pain, it is hard to imagine that the dream of a World Cup has vanished within a few hours of living it. But it’s fate, I’ll accept that.”
The 25-year-old Harit had collided with France international Axel Disasi in a league match. And it is against France, of all countries, that his Moroccans now face in the semi-finals. “What a pleasure,” Harit wrote a little later, referring to this duel. He will keep his fingers crossed – although he would much rather play.
It is already certain that Schalke will sell Amine Harit. The 25-year-old played his 15th competitive game for Marseille at the beginning of November, which means that a clause applies.