"The third time's the charm": a piece of Catalonia cries for Morocco's defeat

L'Hospitalet de LlobregatHours before the initial whistle, in the streets of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat there was no room for doubt regarding the World Cup quarter-final duel between France and Morocco. Minute by minute, the red jerseys of the Atlas Lions colored the neighborhoods of Florida and Torrassa, where Hakimi and Brahim Díaz competed to occupy the backs of the youngest, who imitated their idols with a ball at their feet. Among all these jerseys, some from the Spanish national team with the name of Lamine Yamal, also of Moroccan origin, also stood out.

Nearly 400 fans gathered this Thursday at the Hyatt Regency in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat to cheer on the Atlas Lions together. It was not the first time such a meeting had been held: as Morocco had advanced through the rounds, the call had been gaining followers.

Mostly dressed in the red or white national team jersey, with flags on their shoulders and surrounded by family, the hundreds of fans arrived convinced that Morocco would eliminate France. Some even saw themselves lifting the World Cup. "1000%," replied Najla, from Barcelona, who had come accompanied by her sister Fàtima and two friends from Sabadell. It was the first time they had participated in an event like this, and they celebrated that the Moroccan Consulate was promoting initiatives of this type. "It's an opportunity to build community, to have fun. The energy is spectacular," assured Fàtima.

Omar and his partner were also new to this football event. They had found out the day before through social media, after following the early stages of the tournament with family or friends. This was also the case for Youness, from Viladecans, who, despite being new, had come with a group of friends who were repeating for the fifth time. "It's a great pride and satisfaction to see this support from the Moroccan community," he stated. He also advocated for the decision of many internationals who, "despite having been able to play for another national team, have opted for their origins." He saw this reflected in the numerous children present in the room, many of whom "have never set foot in Morocco but feel fully represented by this national team."

A day to make history

They wondered if that day was the one for revenge against France for the 2022 tie. Leila was convinced. She had come accompanied by Ferran and a group of friends who were also experiencing this collective viewing for the first time. Although she usually watched matches alone, that day she preferred to experience it surrounded by her loved ones. She hoped to eliminate France and, "if possible, win the World Cup". "Fifty-fifty," she said when asked about the team's real chances. She acknowledged that the road was long, long, but also that "maybe this is the year". For others, however, the event went beyond football. This was the case for Hossam, a resident of Gràcia, who had come for the first time to a viewing like this with a clear objective: to strengthen the bonds of the Moroccan community in Catalonia.

As the ball started rolling, predictions gave way to nerves. From the first minute, the match was lived with bated breath. Every run by the Atlas Lions made the crowd rise from the front row to the last, and every approach by Kylian Mbappé provoked a roar in favor of Yassine Bono, the great wall of Morocco.

The match was commented on from seat to seat. Every play was discussed, criticized, or applauded amidst improvised drums, chants, and high-fives that, for ninety minutes, turned the auditorium into a grandstand.

Bono holds onto the dream, but it's not enough

At minute 26, Mazraoui's foul on Mbappé, which resulted in a penalty, chilled the room. Nerves, hands to heads, and fans hidden behind flags to avoid watching the shot. But Bono once again dressed as a hero. The save unleashed a celebration as if it were a goal and made the 400 people gathered in the auditorium erupt with euphoria. The Al-Hilal goalkeeper once again proved himself to be one of the great figures of this generation, just as he did at the 2022 World Cup.

The break served to stretch legs, have some tea, and continue building community. In the second half, every Moroccan attack was experienced as a goal-scoring opportunity. Applause filled the room again, but as the minutes passed, anxiety also grew.

The French goals ended up extinguishing hope. After the first, the fans tried to keep their spirits up without taking their eyes off the screen. With the second, some opted to leave the room, resigned to an elimination that already seemed inevitable.

Every approach to Mike Maignan's goal was still met with applause and a final glimmer of hope. "Third time's the charm," said with a resigned smile a young man sitting in the second row, who was already looking towards the 2030 World Cup, hoping for a revenge that has now lasted two editions.

When the referee signaled the end, there were no more drums or chants: just a final round of applause of gratitude towards their own. Morocco's World Cup dream was over, but not the pride with which the Moroccan community has experienced the journey of the Atlas Lions.