Morocco captain Romain Saiss vows to ‘do everything’ to make historic World Cup semi-final with France

Morocco captain Romain Saiss will do “everything” to be fit for his side’s World Cup semi-final against France.

Saiss started Saturday’s quarter-final win over Portugal, where Morocco became the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, but he was forced off after 55 minutes.

An emotional Saiss was seen close to tears on the bench after he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher.

But the 32-year-old has not given up that he could be fit to face France on Wednesday in the semi-finals.

“I will try. I don’t know,” said Saiss. “I will see tomorrow and do some exams to see what kind of injury I have but I will try my best to be on the pitch.

“I hope it’s going to be OK but if I feel it’s too difficult I will not take any risk and put my team in trouble just to play the semi-final.

“But I will do everything to be there just as I did everything to be here for 55 minutes today.”

Morocco made history by beating Portugal 1-0 to reach the semi-finals, but Saiss says they are not satisfied with that.

“We dream of course, dreaming is free, but to do it is different,” he said.

“We put a lot of energy into each game, physically and mentally it’s hard but it feels so good.

“I know we made history but we want to keep making history. We’ll see. What’s important now is to recover well and prepare the semi-final.”