It began with laughter, singing and chanting Wednesday in Montreal's Little Maghreb neighbourhood, but after France went ahead 2-0 late in their World Cup semifinal, fans of Morocco had to accept their team's dream run was over.
At one packed café on Jean Talon Street, many people got up and left after France scored its second goal, unable to watch the final minutes that clinched the game for the defending World Cup champions.
“They are winning, but we can still come back," Mohamed Reffi said after France took an early lead. "The players are a bit more stressed but we still have a chance." "They will be beating their colonizers," she said in reference to the fact Morocco was under French rule for 44 years before gaining independence in 1956.
“It’s sad, but that's how it is .... We made it to the semifinals," said Issam Qa, 24, who is originally from Morocco. "It was the first time and a real feat. I hope that they come back and go all of the way next time."
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