Younès Belhanda Voices Disappointment Over World Cup Exclusion
In a candid revelation, Moroccan footballer Younès Belhanda has opened up about the emotional scars left by his exclusion from Morocco's remarkable journey in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar. Despite the national team's historic achievement of reaching the semifinals, where they faced a tough defeat against France, Belhanda was notably absent from the squad, a decision made by head coach Walid Regragui. The former Montpellier and Nice midfielder, now playing for Al-Sailiya in Qatar, expressed his lingering resentment towards Regragui, stating, "I still hold a grudge against him. I did not understand his decision."
At the age of 32, Belhanda had hoped for a second chance when Regragui took over the coaching reins from Vahid Halilhodzic. He recalled a sense of optimism when Regragui, who had previously been his assistant coach, contacted him ahead of the World Cup selection. "I was coming off a two-year period without being called up to the national team, and I thought I had a good chance. When he called me, it gave me hope. But when the final squad was announced and I wasn't included, it hit me hard."
Communication Breakdown and Lingering Frustration
Belhanda's disappointment is compounded by what he perceives as a lack of communication from Regragui. "On the day the squad was announced, I called him, but he didn't answer. A simple explanation would have sufficed. I’m not a child; I’m 32 years old. I would have understood if he had said, ‘Younès, I’m making choices.’ But to receive no call at all was very painful for me," he lamented. This disconnect has left him feeling detached from the team’s success during the World Cup, stating, "I didn't care. I wasn’t even watching the games."
Since the World Cup, Belhanda has yet to receive any explanation for his exclusion, and he admits his interest in the national team rekindled only after Regragui's departure. Reflecting on the recent Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, he remarked, "I watched it, but not as I would watch a Moroccan team. It shows how high the resentment has risen within me." Belhanda’s experience highlights the complexities and emotional toll of team selection in professional sports, especially during such a significant event as the World Cup, where national pride is at stake.
As reported by fr.news.yahoo.com.
