Qatar World Cup Reflections- Day 5

There is really only one story line for this day and it is Morocco's massive victory over neighboring Spain. I am usually a huge Spain fan and have been since my son introduced their style of play to me almost 15 years ago. The patient buildup, the focus on team play, and the technical elements of their passing game all appealed to me.

But on this day heading to the Education City stadium, I told my son that I didn't really mind either team winning because both nations meant something. Morocco after all is the only remaining dark horse from the Arab world and Africa. Rising to the occasion would mean much to many. And rise they did ...
Defending heroically for more than 120 minutes with very tight lines in the back, the team took a physical beating from Spain's more than 1,000 passes; but never capitulated. In fact, this team has not been scored on this entire tournament by another team. The only goal against was an own goal. The 0-0 result after extra time was a reflection of what in football is typically referred to as Catenaccio (Italian for door-bolt because the Italians always had a very organized backline defense). It would lead to penalties, which the Moroccans won firmly 3-0 denying Spain a single conversion, keeping the hope of their nation, the entire Arab region and Africa alive.
But the story today was as much about the team as it was about the Moroccan fans who descended upon Education City in massive numbers and drowned out the small contingent of Spanish fans by what I would estimate was at least a factor of ten. Arriving to the stadium earlier, we were greeted with a sea of fans donning the red Moroccan flag with the green star. Outside the stadium, they began their chants and celebrations and were egged on by the sounds of fellow Arab Caroline Karam singing Fairuz's "Khidni A Bledi" (Take me to my Homeland) as well as some hip swinging head rolling classics ...
Once inside the Education City stadium, the atmosphere became even more concentrated and electrifying. If Senegal fans had been impressive from their corner of the stadium a couple of days earlier, Morocco occupied this entire stadium, leaving the Spaniards with a sliver of space and even less sound. Every time the Spaniards would get the ball, stadium-wide whistling and jeering would ensue. Every time Morocco had it, it was drums and chants in stereo from one end of the stadium to the other. The Moroccan fans didn't really serve as the proverbial 12th player, but also the 13th, 14th, and 15th!
Could Morocco do in this World Cup what Greece did in the Euro in 2004 and go all the way, shocking the presumptive first world of football? It is still early to tell, but it certainly has the defensive resilience that Greece showed back then. And of course it now has the entire Arab World and Africa behind it ... And what a fairy tale story it would be. For now, it's step by step and the next one will be against Portugal, who Interestingly enough, Greece actually beat twice on their way to that miracle victory of 2004 ...















































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