"It's a good challenge, it's going to be an extraordinary match," rejoices Abdelaziz Hamida.
On the eve of this semi-final of the France-Morocco Football World Cup, the mayor (SE) of Goussainville, "a football fan since childhood", does not hide his enthusiasm and impatience.
Since the start of this World Cup, the elected Frenchman of Moroccan origin has seen all the matches that his schedule allowed him, in particular "all those of the France team, and all those of Morocco with the exception of the 8th finals against Spain, because I was in training," he told us.
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This Wednesday, the city councilor will be in front of the giant screen installed by his services in the Nelson Mandela gymnasium.
The city is indeed organizing a new public broadcast of the match open to all.
Each meeting has so far brought together between 200 and 300 people.
“A lot of young people, especially children with their parents.
Adult football fans tell me that they are too stressed to watch games with a crowd,” smiles Abdelaziz Hamida.
“What Morocco has done is enormous”
Like many Franco-Moroccans from Goussainville and elsewhere, his heart will inevitably swing a little this Wednesday evening.
“These are two very good teams as the best wins.
In any case, I say: I will be in the final, ”he explains regretting some emerging controversies around this confrontation.
“The important thing is sport, the beautiful game, the tactics, that's what interests people, football enthusiasts, particularly numerous in Goussainville with a club with more than 1,000 members.
The rest is just to create buzz,” he insists.
What about his prognosis?
“It's complicated but I would say 1-1 before penalties.
Then it's a bit haphazard and depending on the shape of the goalkeepers.
Whatever the outcome, the mayor anticipates his joy on Wednesday.
“What Morocco has done is enormous, they have already won everything because no one expected them at this level of the competition so if they win, it's obviously crazy, he believes.
But seeing France potentially win a second World Cup in a row is also crazy!
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