FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Morocco coach Henri Michel is no stranger to the World Cup having guided his native France and Cameroon with contrasting fortunes.

The former Nantes star, who was capped 58 times by his country, steered France to third place in Mexico 12 years ago with a 4-2 playoff triumph against Belgium. Drafted into the hot seat at the last minute by Cameroon in 1994, the 50-year-old Michel had to endure heavy losses by eventual champions Brazil and Russia and beat a hasty retreat.

When Michel inherited Morocco three years ago the national team was in the doldrums following defeats by Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast which prevented them competing at the 1996 African Nations Cup. The transformation of the Atlas Lions – the Atlas mountain range forms the spine of the North African country – has been remarkable with only one competitive defeat under Michel.

That came at the recent African Nations Cup in Burkina Faso with holders South Africa winning an absorbing tactical battle 2-1 to qualify for the semi-finals. Highlights of his reign include a World Cup victory over Abedi Pele-led Ghana and victories against arch-rivals Egypt in the qualifying and final rounds of the Nations Cup.

Nantes won the French championship three times and the cup once during the years Michel served them and he was coach when France struck gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.