Hakimi shirts and a family vibe as Marrakech lived France’s 2-0 win over Morocco | OneFootball

Marrakech’s Jemaa El-Fna drew several thousand for the World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco, a relaxed, family crowd that stayed to the end as France won 2-0.

According to L'Équipe, the square applauded when Kylian Mbappé missed a penalty at 21:28 local time, relief aimed at Yassine Bounou rather than anger at the taker.

At the break, Smaïl praised Bounou as outstanding and lamented a rare chance following an Adrien Rabiot handball, believing Hakimi should have left the free-kick for Brahim. He admired Bouaddi, Ounahi and Brahim for playing out under pressure and wanted Rahimi on. He came alone, saying his toddler was too small for the vuvuzelas popular here.

In the 60th minute Mbappé finally beat Bounou, the crowd acknowledged the finish, and around 50 France fans in scattered groups roared.

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi brought on Rahimi at 62 minutes, but departures began as Ousmane Dembélé’s threat grew. Locals folded camping chairs and the night ended calmly with a few rounds of applause.

On the square, Senegalese vendor Mustapha, 14 years in Morocco and backing the Lions, joked about calling on marabouts to curb Mbappé and Olise. He also roots for Morocco, he said, because victories shift T-shirts and might one day fund a Lamborghini.

Marrakech has increasingly welcomed traders from sub-Saharan Africa, families drifting between henna and braiding stalls. Hakimi’s No 2 remains the bestseller. Shirt-seller Mohssine said Bouaddi is emerging, with prices at 120 to 240 dirhams before haggling, and he expects Bouaddi to be lucrative.

Source: L'Équipe