Qatar 2022 World Cup: Moroccans optimistic after tie with Croatia

Morocco's much-awaited first game in Qatar World Cup has ended with a bitter tie against its rival Croatia.

On Wednesday, Moroccan football fans gathered in the country's popular cafes, stressing, yelling and cheering their team's performance at the international tournament.

Several Moroccan universities and workplaces cancelled meetings and classes, calling on students and employees to watch the match together to celebrate the country's qualification for the international tournament in Doha.

The 'Moroccan street' had different reactions to the first game for the "Atlas Lions", but everyone seems to agree that Croatia's Modric is the one to blame.

"I do not understand how Modric [Croatia's player] has not been given any yellow card despite how he violently tackles from behind opposing players. It is not fair," Mehdi, a 24-year-old student, said to The New Arab while watching the match at his university.

The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner did not prove popular among the Morrocco fans at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar too. He has been booed from the start of the game at the stadium.

After the match, many Moroccan fans celebrated the bitter tie, giving credit to the Atlas Lions for standing tall against the 2018 World Cup runner, Croatia.

"The best part of football for me is to be happy and supportive of your team. They played well today, not great, but good. So they deserve some appreciation," Abdelkader, a 60-year-old man, told TNA as he joined honking his car, with others, in support of the national team.

Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was agreeably the hero of today's game as he relentlessly kept Morocco's net safe from Croatia's relentless attacks. Several fans praised the moment he used his legs to make a good save from Vlasic's close-range poke, depicting it as "a renaissance painting".

A renaissance painting #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/CsKNrYbqQa

— Saiid (@Grreegorsamsa) November 23, 2022

Having failed to qualify for four straight World Cups, the Atlas Lions followed up their participation in Russia four years ago by qualifying for Qatar Cup this year.

Morocco's best performance in the World Cup was in 1986 - the Atlas Lions' first and last knockout round appearance.

Today, many fans are holding much hope on Morocco's new coach Walid Reguragui, 45-time former Moroccan international and CAF Champions League-winning coach, to repeat history in Qatar this year.