The penalties were the key to the quarterfinals for Morocco, whose celebration had its epicenter at Casa Árabe in Madrid, where a hundred people gathered. Their cries of joy could be heard even in Qatar and good vibes were the dominant tone of a match where many won yes or yes, because they had been born in Morocco and lived in Spain since they were children. Many of those present had hearts departed. There were fans with flags, t-shirts, their faces painted, to give color to a tent set up for the occasion, which had nothing to envy to the stands of the Ciudad de la Educación, and which was also attended by Irene Lozano, director of Casa Árabe, and Malek Twal, ambassador of the Arab League in our country. Same environment, same decibels, same illusion.
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“We have suffered, but hey… we have experienced worse things than penalties. And if we have been able to with Spain, we will also be able to with Portugal”, explained Solaiman Abirkan excitedly, 32 years old, a Moroccan living in Spain since he was 3. His grandparents, his roots, have already passed away and today he had them present during the meeting. “I’m a very soccer fan, I’m from Madrid,” he confessed. “Come on, me too!” he said. Sarah Chaaiby, who wore a green dress and a red coat, the colors of her flag. The same one that she had drawn on her cheek. She did not want to go to penalties, but she experienced them accompanied by other compatriots. The Moroccan has been living in Madrid for three years, where she studies Noro Marketing and his Spanish is fluent. “Long live Morocco and long live Spain. It was clear to me that whoever won would win, I was going to support him until the end, now more”, he declared exultant after this long-suffering victory.
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That it was not just another game was noted half an hour before the initial whistle. Casa Árabe brought together dozens of journalists, including Burak Akbulut from the Turkish Anadolu Agency and Muath Hamed from Qatari television Alaraby, who came to spread the word. “Great setting!” They agreed. One of the first to arrive was Moroccan Sarah Mahmou, along with her husband Omar and her two children. The third is on the way. The little ones calmly watched the drawings on the mobile, while their parents squeezed a flag with their hands at each wrong occasion or rival approach. Come on Morocco! Now he has to win the World Cup! It is the first time we visit Spain. We are going to be five days of tourism and we have come to see it here. Morocco and Spain are like brothers, ”he mumbled in English.
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They weren’t the only family there. The Moflih also vibrated with Morocco-Spain, interspersing the selfies —they alternated a red cap— with the videos. “Some friends told us about Casa Árabe and we couldn’t fail. She has been worth it, ”said the matriarch. And it is that the schedule (16:00) and the place (in front of the Retiro) led to this good entry. The applause and the shouts followed one another with the arrivals of both equipment, being the culmination the extra time and the penalties. One of the loudest was Zakarias’ group, who lives in Vistalegre and was surrounded by five other friends. Morocco believed and got it. Their pass to the quarterfinals unleashed madness in the tent and congratulations from the Spaniards who watched the duel with them followed one another. Both hobbies gave the most important lesson, that of sportsmanship.
