The Blues of Didier Deschamps can go down a little further in history: only two nations have managed to keep their crown, Brazil under Pelé (1958 and 1962) and Italy during the fascist era (1934 and 1938), a time when only sixteen teams took part in the tournament.
But despite the defeat, the Moroccans also made history: no African nation had ever entered the semi-finals, Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana having failed in extremis in the quarters.
A course of which Moroccans can be proud but on which they can build the future.
Encouraged by the public, where their supporters were clearly in the majority, they could have hoped for better.
On the Champs-Élysées, in Paris, the crowd invaded the most beautiful avenue in the world.
