Morocco faces France in politically charged WCup semifinal

RABAT: Hind Sabouni bristles with pride as she recalls her country's history-making World Cup run as it eliminated one European soccer powerhouse and former colonial power after another — Belgium, Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal — to become the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals. For the 26-year-old English teacher in Morocco's capital, and many of her countrymen both inside the North African nation and throughout the diaspora, it's about to get more complicated.

Next up is France: The defending champion and Morocco’s former colonial ruler for much of the first half of the 20th century. Wednesday’s match has political and emotional resonance for both nations.

It dredges up everything that’s complex about the relationship in which France still wields considerable economic, political and cultural influence. “This game is one of a kind,” Sabouni said.

“Especially since France is next to beat.” “We can show the rest of the world that Morocco is no longer France’s backyard." For the former protectorate, the match against the defending champion is an opportunity to show that Morocco is a formidable foe — on the soccer pitch at least — even though immigration between the two countries has blurred the lines for many in France and Morocco about who to support Wednesday in Qatar. Over the past decade, Morocco’s relationship with France has changed.

Sabouni said her generation of Moroccans is tired of France’s dominance. Young Moroccans, she said, “speak English instead of French, they buy more American products than French ones and even those who want to seek a better life abroad try to avoid France.” “Even though this is just a football game, some people view it as an opportunity for revenge,” Sabouni