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Morocco's inspirational World Cup run succeeded in putting traditional powers on notice

AL KHOR, Qatar -- At the final whistle, Morocco coach Walid Regragui embraced his opposite number, France boss Didier Deschamps, who had just guided Les Bleus to a second consecutive World Cup final. Regragui gathered his group of bruised and spent players after Wednesday's 2-0 defeat into a huddle in the middle of the pitch and, after a brief speech, guided them towards the stand behind one of the goals, turned blood-red by the jerseys and flags of the overwhelmingly Morocco-supporting -- but not necessarily Moroccan -- crowd.

Almost as one, they bowed to their supporters.