On Thursday, Moroccan media praised the national football squad as the nation processed its historic run coming to an end in the World Cup semifinal loss to France.
According to the Lakome2 news website, “Morocco went out with honor and with their heads high.”
In the 92-year history of football’s premier competition, the “Lions of the Atlas” were the first Arab or African team to advance to a semifinal.
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A string of victories, including over Belgium, Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, “allowed Arabs and Africans to hold their heads high”, wrote sports outlet Al-Mountakhab.
“We can’t fault the Lions of the Atlas, even if we had dreamed of reaching the final,” it said.
Sports website Le360sport said the team’s “epic” run had been hit by “physical glitches” in the back line — a reference to defender Romain Saiss’s thigh injury early in the game and the withdrawal of centre-back Nayef Aguerd just moments before the start.
News site Le Desk noted that the team had missed “several opportunities to score”.
But most of the coverage was gushing.
Even the habitually sober business journal L’Economiste sang the team’s praises, saying they should be added to the “Pantheon of football”.
Reaching the semi-final of a World Cup, “a first for an African team, is a starting point, not a destination”, it said.
Social media was flooded with a mix of praise for the team and criticism of the referee.
“Our sadness at being defeated mustn’t let us forget the joy we’ve experienced,” one user wrote.
Another person praised the team’s “sacrifices” and tenacity. Thank you for giving a people that much needed it their lost hope and smiles back.
According to the Markaz Review, a Middle Eastern culture publication published in the US, “for the millions watching… it felt like the ultimate clash.”
However, it noted that “players on both teams fought gallantly and gave each other hugs and emotional support, reflecting a fundamental shift in ties between former colonies and their European adversaries.
