Thousands of Morocco flags turned the Al Bayt Stadium red on Wednesday, making many of their fans feel right at home.
The ground was jumping as Morocco drew 0-0 against the 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia, and for some it was a good result.
”It was like being at home inside the stadium, with so many of our flags and fans inside," said Yassine Bihi, a Moroccan fan who lives in Doha and went to the game with his wife and two boys Adam and Jad.
"I think a draw is a good result, Croatia are a good side. It was only the first game for us, hopefully this point will help get us out of the group.”
The atmosphere was electric from the start, with the underdogs impressing with their energy on the pitch despite not being able to create many clear-cut opportunities.
"It was more fun inside the stadium today, there was lots of noise from the Moroccan fans and I think we were unlucky not to win," said Hyat Makoudi, who lives in France and attended the game with seven family members.
Croatia fan Drago Majher thought the teams were evenly matched on the day.
“Morocco were very fast and very strong, I think they surprised us," he said. "It was hot, yes, but there was no excuse. It was actually cooler inside the stadium. I think it was just two tough teams who didn’t want to lose.”
His son, Josep, an entrepreneur who lives in Croatian capital Zagreb, was more disappointed than his father and said after Argentina's shock defeat against Saudi Arabia, both teams were overcautious.
"Neither side wanted to take any risk, it is still very early on in the tournament," he said.
"Croatia did not want to lose like Argentina. We are not happy with a draw but we live to fight another day. There is still a long way to go.”
Despite the goalless draw, many Moroccan fans felt happy coming out of the stadium.
Driss Belkhiti, 27, is a consultant from Casablanca but now lives in Dubai, from where he takes a shuttle flight to catch some World Cup games.
"It was a pretty good game from Morocco, bearing in mind Croatia were the finalists last time," he said.
"It’s a little disappointing there were no goals but it is still a good score for us. It gives us hope to get through the group stage.
"I’ve been taking the shuttles [flights] from Dubai and it has been a great experience so far. We are always one of the best represented teams at a World Cup and it is the same in Qatar.”
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Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
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Tests: 53; Innings: 98; Not outs: 11; Runs: 4,594; Best score: 254; Average: 52.80; 100s: 11; 50s: 27
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
