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Our reporter celebrated with the Moroccans in Marrakesh: "a moment we will remember for the rest of our lives" | Israel today

2022-12-07T06:27:31.245Z


Ashraf Hakimi's successful penalty, which gave Morocco the amazing victory over Spain, gave the signal for the non-stop celebrations in the streets of Marrakesh. - green


The cliché will say that it is difficult to describe the joy that erupted yesterday in the streets of Marrakesh after Morocco's surprising victory over Spain.

Such joy has never been seen here.

History mixed with ecstasy.

The winning penalty brought all of Marrakesh out into the streets, and the celebrants were so intoxicated that crossing the road was an impossible task.

Thousands of motorcycles drove from side to side, loaded with revelers of all kinds and species - all without helmets, but with flags and trumpets, and the sirens were incessant.

All around everyone danced together to the sounds of darbukas and deafening sirens.

"It's pride without limits," Anas, a guy from Casablanca who came to the city for work and now just wants to dance, explained to me.

"It was a stressful game, but luckily our goalkeeper was huge.

It's a great honor to be a part of this moment," he added and hurried to disappear to continue the mass celebration that lasted all night.

An entire nation in the clouds, and everyone is in crazy euphoria.

Moroccan fans, yesterday, photo: AP

Three hours earlier, several thousand locals had gathered in the Jama'a al-Fna square - one of the famous squares in Marrakesh - to watch the game together on a giant screen.

The atmosphere around hinted at what was expected to happen next.

Stalls were opened, vendors sold flags, balloons, hats and shirts - all of course in red-green colors.

Girls with a red heart drawn on their cheek showed up in the square accompanied by their parents.

A local guy pushed his elderly mother's wheelchair and a Moroccan flag was hanging on it.

The mother wore a traditional outfit, had an earring in her nose and a beaded necklace in her hand.

Even she can't remember the last time her soccer team brought such pride.

There was also a man with a monkey, several people with snakes and even one who dressed up as a ninja turtle.

This square is the tourist center of the city, and is usually the place to indulge in tourists.

But yesterday, for one moment, they were all brothers.

"Moroccans are by nature a very optimistic people," Abdel explained to me.

"That's why they are calm.

Everyone here is convinced that we will win 0:1."

Moroccan players.

Raised an entire country on its feet, photo: AP

All that remains is to be jealous

Then the game began, and the optimism eroded itself minute by minute.

Every now and then the transmission was jammed, the sun was blinding, and each eruptive attack raised the anxiety level.

When the whistle blew and it became clear that the fight would be decided from the white spot, there was a great cheer in the square.

Optimistic to the end.

In the end, contrary to all expectations, the optimism actually proved itself.

"Didn't I tell you we'd win?" Abdel roared after Hakimi scored the last penalty.

This was the signal to start the festivities.

Red flares were lit, everyone hugged everyone.

Not every day, not every year, and not every generation go to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The streets of Rabat in Shigeon, photo: IPA

A girl wearing a Hakim Zaish T-shirt screamed at me with joy, but couldn't form sentences.

A friend of hers explained: "We are the Arab country that made history.

The first to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.

This is a moment we will remember for the rest of our lives.'

I didn't like telling him that we in Israel are still living on a respectable performance in Mexico in the 70's.

Jealousy ate my eyes.

were we wrong

We will fix it!

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Source: israelhayom

All sports articles on 2022-12-07

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