At the dressing room door, Walid Regragui fired his players one by one, like someone sending a squad to the first line of fire. The Moroccan coach melted into his players in an exuberant hug that kept his pupils pinned to his chest for several seconds. The ritual heralded the beginning of the expected scenario. A predominantly Moroccan crowd and 11 Atlas Lions attack their European neighbor’s opulent football. First with the short fuse in the clashes, as Jordi Alba was able to verify on the sole of Ziyech. The limits of feelings are special and from that first start, the Moroccan internationals showed that they felt more than the Spaniards. When it comes to discovering a young talent or such games, football has always been a perfect thermometer for the social well-being of its protagonists.
It wasn’t that the Spanish players weren’t hungry for victory, it was about the eternal myth of David versus Goliath. Morocco’s intense entrenchment that prevented Spain from getting their first shot on goal in 20 minutes. Arms akimbo, standing or crouching, shaking his head, disapproving of what he was seeing, Luis Enrique screamed in despair. If his body language betrayed a fainting and consumed coach, that of the Moroccan footballers in their intense retreat on their own field was typical of football defense manuals. Bend knees and step on toes to speed movements. Boots against boots in a duel for the ball; those of the Maghreb players had more momentum to sweep. Only Gavi seemed to react to the nature of the argument that had been raised.
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It’s no coincidence that Andalucia is one of the few places in Spain where neighborhood football still exists. Gavi still preserves the street codes, despite the La Masia academic sieve he has passed through. But there are streets and streets and those of the people of Morocco or those of the European immigrant districts are still those of children of the sun and moon with a balloon. The imperishable formula of making virgueros, hours upon hours of defending pride and even an identity against the rest with a ball underfoot. The spinning top dance performed by Boufal Marcos Llorente on a lawn and his waist and acceleration plays were characteristic of this appellation that led Spain to extra time and penalties.
Sabiri’s first throw from 11 meters, which deceived Unai Simón from the opposite corner, also had remnants of the class acquired on earth. When it started, Bono’s figure continued to increase, with his side-to-side movements and some misleading phrases. Tricks that saw Sarabia, Soler and Busquets forfeit, who was able to sign his last action as an international. It was Getafe-born Achraf who put the finishing touches on Spain at this World Cup. And it couldn’t have been more roadworthy and insightful than with a polished technical quality and the coldness of a gang leader. Simon was executed Panenka style.
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