The Moroccans were in a sea of happiness after qualifying for the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup after a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory over Spain. After the final whistle, nothing could stop Moroccans from taking to the streets of several European cities, including Athens, to celebrate the win.
In Athens:
No this is not a photo of riots for once it’s the massive celebration of Morocco over Spain. This is more fun than Greek Easter at the local church. The community is out in force! #Morocco #athens pic.twitter.com/HHaiScFKUM
— PATRICIA COLON (@PatColon) December 6, 2022
Photos from Patision Street in the Greek capital:
In Madrid:
Rabat no... Madrid pic.twitter.com/flPZLm2XMI
— Carles Enric (@carlesenric) December 6, 2022
In Barcelona:
📍 Canaletas (Barcelona)
🇲🇦🥳 Aficionados marroquíes acuden al centro de la Ciudad Condal para celebrar el pase de Marruecos a cuartos de final
📹 @FerranNadeu pic.twitter.com/AfFEy1U6QF
— Diario SPORT (@sport) December 6, 2022
In Granada:
https://twitter.com/gchahal/status/1600199768378343425
In London:
Moroccons celebrating their victory in London!!! #Morocco #MORSPA pic.twitter.com/81wABKQBWJ
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) December 6, 2022
In The Hague:
Hague getting ready remembering last time #Morocco won pic.twitter.com/EYtqsBXXeM
— Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) December 6, 2022
In Paris:
A quiet, festive stroll along the Champs-Élysées this evening takes a twist!
Well done, #Morocco.
Another incredible result in this World Cup 👏🇲🇦🏆 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/h3fCBw9arE
— Charlotte Richardson (@CharlotteR_22) December 6, 2022
Moroccan footballers playing in Greece could not hide their joy at the qualification of their country to the quarter-finals.
Youssef El Arabi, the Moroccan international of Olympiacos - who is not in Qatar - uploaded two Insta Stories about Morocco's qualification with Spain.
Morocco stunned the 2010 champions Spain to reach their first ever World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, winning their Round of 16 encounter in a penalty shootout at the Education City stadium. Morocco defeated Spain 3-0 on penalties, with all the three Spanish penalty takers missing the goal.
Absolute scenes. 😳
Morocco are into the World Cup Quarter-Finals! 🇲🇦 #FIFAWorldCup | @adidasfootball
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 6, 2022
Achraf Hakimi, a product of the Real Madrid youth system, calmly scored the winner to take the African side into the last eight stage as a jubilant celebration erupted among the players and fans in the stadium.
After their stunning victory over Spain, the Moroccan team gathered on the field and celebrated it with a Palestinian flag alongside several Moroccan ones.
Morocco’s players also displayed the Palestinian flag after the team’s win against Canada during the group stage last week.
Qatar has no relations with Israel and remains a supporter of the decades-long Palestinian cause for statehood.
Morocco celebrates their victory by raising the Palestinian flag 🇵🇸. Palestine has been the winner in this World Cup. Arab regimes can pursue normalisation, but the people of the Arab world will have the final say. Congratulations Morocco for your victory and principled stance 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/eTrNQWhelB
— Amro Ali (@_amroali) December 6, 2022
FIFA regulations prohibit the display of banners, flags and fliers that are deemed to be “political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature.” In the past, football’s governing bodies have issued fines for displays of the Palestinian flag inside stadia.
Morocco is the only Arab — and African — nation left in the tournament, the first to be held in the Middle East. The North African country's success has reverberated across the Arab world and among Moroccan and some other immigrant communities in Europe.
The country will now take on Portugal in their quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Lineups: Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss (capt.), Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah, Azzedine Ounahi, Hakim Ziyech, Soufiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri; Spain: Unai Simon, Marcos Llorente, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets (capt.), Gavi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio.
