Al Khor, Qatar – Wednesday night at Al Bayt Stadium was the extension of a dream for Morocco.
Followers the world over, and never simply Moroccans, had pressed their snooze buttons to permit the dream to linger a bit longer, stretching it for the additional minutes of that last hurrah.
Morocco had already exceeded expectations by reaching the World Cup semifinals at Qatar 2022, beating Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal alongside the way in which.
On Wednesday night, between them and Argentina at Lusail Stadium, stood one other big of world soccer: two-time winners and reigning champions France – arguably the most important, sternest and truest check of whether or not Qatar 2022 was a dream or actuality for Morocco.
Since beating Belgium, Morocco hoped for a last-16 slot. Expectations grew after they beat Spain. Fantasy gave solution to perception after beating Portugal.
However on Wednesday at Al Bayt Stadium – possibly because of the introduction of a brand new soccer, the event or simply the gulf in expertise between the 2 units of gamers – the dream didn’t materialise in the way in which Morocco wished.
A French masterclass on the pitch ensured the Atlas Lions is not going to end increased than third within the World Cup.
“That is soccer, that’s the way it works,” Fatima, a Moroccan supporter, mentioned after the 2-0 loss. “However we’re actually happy with the crew. Moroccan soccer has completely modified now. This isn’t a loss, no method. We’re the champions.”
As the ultimate whistle blew, a crew huddle happened within the center. The French crew celebrated their progress to a second successive last. Morocco, in the meantime, soaked in what that they had achieved: glory, respect and unprecedented heights.
There have been shouts of “Morocco, Morocco” and “seer, seer” (go, go) from the stands, though not in unison just like the earlier matches. Whereas some made an early exit, the bulk in purple and inexperienced stayed again, applauding the gamers who carried out one final prostration in prayer on the sphere.
“Proud, proud, proud. That’s how I’m feeling proper now,” Amine, one other Moroccan supporter, mentioned. “They made historical past, they’re nonetheless a younger crew and now we’ve ambition for future world cups. We’re not going to surrender now. It’s a change of a mindset, there’s a successful mentality instilled within the gamers, the crew and the nation now. It will change our future generations.”
For Youssra, it was the efficiency and never the end result on the pitch that made her cry.
“I’m a bit emotional however not disillusioned,” she mentioned. “It’s been superb thus far. We’re tremendous glad and tremendous proud. They’ve made historical past. They’re fighters. We’re supporting them until the top, it doesn’t matter what.”
For the France-born Shaima, it was a bittersweet win.
“My dad and mom are from Morocco so I used to be supporting Morocco tonight. They did one thing nice. They confirmed the world {that a} crew from Africa can actually obtain one thing nice.”
Morocco shall be again for one final hurrah on Saturday within the third-place playoff towards Croatia, the crew towards which the Atlas Lions’ fairy story journey started at Qatar 2022 final month.
There’ll nonetheless be chants of “seer, seer” inside Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, with renewed vigour and hopes that the impasse towards the identical opponents from November is bettered.
For some travelling followers although, successful or shedding on Saturday is not going to take the gloss away from the “dream run”.
“We’re so, so happy with the Lions,” Lamia mentioned. “Not one in every of us may’ve dreamt that our crew will attain the semi-finals of the World Cup. We actually wish to win third place nevertheless it’s effective if it doesn’t occur. We’ve already performed greater than what we may’ve imagined.”