Hervé Renard shows no mercy towards Brahim Díaz

The French coach, currently the head coach of Saudi Arabia, has been categorical towards the technical leader of the Moroccan national team. Hervé Renard stated that he has "no compassion" for the player after his failed technical gesture from the penalty spot. According to him, this action constitutes "a lack of respect towards an entire country and an entire people who have been seeking success for 50 years". The two-time African champion recalled having already sanctioned a similar behavior in the past by demanding public apologies from one of his players during a press conference.

This stance comes from an authoritative voice, as Hervé Renard coached Morocco between 2016 and 2019, a period during which he led the country to the 2018 World Cup. The only coach to have won the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries, Zambia and Ivory Coast, he believes that the national interest should have taken precedence over individual technical audacity, despite the central role played by Brahim Díaz throughout the competition.

In contrast to these criticisms, former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has publicly defended the Moroccan striker on his social media. The Spanish defender pointed out that "only those who have the personality to take them fail", urging his former teammate to keep his "head high always". For him, Brahim Díaz’s contribution to the national team far exceeds this momentary failure, stating that football always offers an opportunity for revenge.

This wave of solidarity has been joined by many figures from the world of football, such as Luis Enrique or Kylian Mbappé. Following the public apology message published by the Moroccan international, several Real Madrid players, including Vinicius, Rodrygo, Courtois, and Arda Güler, have also sent him messages of encouragement. Despite the controversy sparked by his panenka, Brahim Díaz retains the support of a large part of his peers to overcome this difficult episode and, above all, of the Moroccan public, who are waiting for him at the World Cup.