World Cup: Despair and pride for Moroccans as tournament run ends

Moroccan hopes of becoming the archetypal African federation to scope the World Cup last person ended successful despair aft their broadside mislaid 2-0 to France.

Supporters gathered crossed Morocco, successful Europe, and successful the big federation Qatar were hoping they could flooded their erstwhile assemblage rulers.

But it was not to beryllium with goals from Theo Hernandez and Kylian Mbappe seeing the satellite champions into the final.

"We mislaid but we're precise proud," a instrumentality successful Casablanca told the BBC.

At the instrumentality portion successful the Mohammed V stadium, different protagonist said the effect was "ok", adding "it's the game". Many of those watching said they believed that their side's tally astatine the World Cup successful Qatar was conscionable the opening of a promising aboriginal for Morocco's footballers.

At the oldest cafe successful Casablanca, fans became progressively frustrated arsenic their squad struggled to score.

One protagonist who grew up successful France but was calved successful Morocco said helium wanted the state to triumph due to the fact that it was "time for Africa to assistance the World Cup".

Moroccan fans were besides watching the crippled successful a ample structure erected successful the grounds of Madrid's Casa Arabe taste centre. Traditional Moroccan snacks were handed astir arsenic fans cheered their squad on.

"Despite everything, I americium arrogant of our team," Inas, an English teacher from Rif, who wore a Moroccan nationalist squad shirt, told the BBC.

"They represented much than football, they gave america a symbolic triumph successful truthful galore ways, the planetary attraction and respect they gave us."

Munir, a petrol presumption attendant primitively from Casablanca, was chanting with a radical of friends passim the crippled and though helium was upset erstwhile France's 2nd extremity went in, helium was inactive upbeat.

"This is simply a erstwhile successful a beingness event," helium said, of the Moroccan squad reaching the semi-finals. "Not adjacent our children volition witnesser this again. It has meant everything to us."

In Cricklewood, an country of north-west London successful the UK, Moroccan supporters gave a immense cheer arsenic the last whistle blew.

Fans determination felt an immense pridefulness successful however their squad performed. In freezing conditions, Moroccan nationals watched nether blankets, drinking beverage and smoking shisha.

Tunisians, Algerians and Egyptians were successful Cafe Prego. "We are each 1 nation", said 1 instrumentality who believes the tourney successful Qatar has been the champion World Cup ever and has agreed London's Arab diaspora.

Fans gathered astatine The Hague successful the Netherlands were philosophical astir their chances of overcoming the defending champions.

One supporter, Soufian, told the BBC that "whatever the effect we volition celebrate" due to the fact that his squad had "never made it this far".

"Even if we lose, we celebrate," helium added, though Dutch constabulary were adjacent by to guarantee the celebrations did not get retired of control.