LONDON: Rani Khedira, brother of Germany star Sami Khedira, has turned down the chance to play for Tunisia at this summer’s World Cup.
The Khedira brothers were born in Stuttgart to a Tunisian father. Both Rani, who is 24, and Sami, 30, played for German junior teams while Juventus midfielder Sami has gone on to become a World Cup winner with 72 appearances for Germany.
Rani Khedira, a defensive midfielder with Augsburg, said he was flattered to be approached but had turned the offer down.
“It filled me with pride that the Tunisian association thought of me,” he said. “I was born and raised in Germany, I only speak German — that was crucial. My game is about communication, instructions and tactics, time is too short, it’s too difficult. I cannot help the team and give my best performance.”
The younger Khedira said he wanted to be fair to other players who have earned the chance to represent Tunisia at a World Cup.
“I don’t want to take a place away from any of them,” he said.
“It has been a long process with those in my sphere of influence, my dad is a proud Tunisian, I carry both countries in my heart and wish them the best, but, in the end, it was the right decision.”
Tunisia face a tough task to get out of their group in Russia, having been drawn with Belgium, England and Panama in Group G this June.
Rani Khedira turns down chance to play for Tunisia at the World Cup
Rani Khedira turns down chance to play for Tunisia at the World Cup
Morocco part company with coach Regragui as World Cup looms
RABAT: Morocco parted company with coach Walid Regragui on Thursday, three months before the World Cup, with the country’s football federation naming Mohamed Ouahbi as his replacement.
Regragui leaves despite having led the Atlas Lions to the World Cup semifinals in 2022 and to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of this year.
“I leave my post with loyalty, gratitude, and the certainty that I have served my country,” he declared during a ceremony broadcast live on television, confirming weeks of persistent rumors that he was on his way out.
Ouahbi, 49, is promoted to the role having overseen Morocco’s triumph at the Under-20 World Cup in October, with the federation describing the move as “a strategic transition” in the run-up to the World Cup in North America in June and July.
“It’s a desire not to waste time and to take a different direction,” a source close to the Moroccan Federation told AFP.
“By appointing Mohamed Ouahbi and welcoming top-tier reinforcements, we are raising our standards and our demands,” the source said.
Morocco will be in Group C at the World Cup along with five-time winners Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
They begin their campaign against Brazil at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on June 13 and will be hoping to make a big impression at the tournament before co-hosting the 2030 edition with Spain and Portugal.
“Our ambition is to consolidate our place among the best nations in a sustainable way and to perform well from this summer, as well as in 2030,” the leader of the Moroccan federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, said recently.
Regragui was hailed in 2022 after Morocco became the first African nation in World Cup history to reach the semifinals, beating Spain and Portugal along the way.
However, Regragui likely paid the ultimate price for the manner in which Morocco lost the recent AFCON final to Senegal.
His team were beaten 1-0 after extra-time at the end of a match marred by the Senegal team’s decision to walk off the pitch in protest at the award of a controversial late penalty to the hosts.
The penalty award with the game goalless sparked trouble in the crowd involving Senegal fans, 18 of whom were jailed following the disruption.
Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz eventually took the penalty after a long delay but his kick was saved and Senegal went on to win the game.
