A corner of west London erupted with celebration on Saturday as Morocco staged an upset to proceed to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.
Crowds gathered in the heart of London's Moroccan community in Ladbroke Grove before the big game against Portugal.
Hundreds of people, many of whom were clutching or wrapped in flags, stood beneath a large screen on Golborne Road to watch the match.
Some climbed out of the windows of flats, perching on a terrace above a row of shops.
The area erupted with joy following Morocco’s win, as fireworks lit the sky and people revved their engines and honked their car horns in celebration.
The atmosphere was carnival-like, as people partied with painted faces, waving their flags.
“I am very proud of the team. I am very proud of their achievement,” Meryem El Mouhid, who is from Casablanca but lives in London, told The National after the win.
“It’s also the first. It’s so many firsts. The first Arab country to get to the semi-finals. The first African country. And also because they were the underdog. I am super proud. I can’t describe it.”
Another fan, whose face was painted in red and green in the colours of the country’s flag said: “It’s an amazing feeling. We never thought we could get this far but we kept believing. I can’t explain it. I am so happy.”
Elsewhere in London, England supporters hoped for a similar upset in their game against favourite France.
Kylian Mbappe was the man in many people’s minds as they looked ahead to the 7pm kick-off.
“I think it’s going to be a really tight game either way. It’s not just going to be solely about Mbappe and Walker,” Michael Pike, 41, a strategy director who lives in London told The National.
“It’s going to be solely about how the whole of the England team copes with the threat of Mbappe.”
He said the game will be an interesting encounter between two “European heavyweights”.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if England caused a bit of an upset. I think France go into it as favourites. But England has a really good chance of overcoming them and getting a good result.”
Fellow London resident Milo McConaghy, 29, said it was the biggest match of his lifetime as an England supporter.
“In terms of a team and cohesiveness of them all, I think this is the best I have ever seen,” he told The National.
He said on paper Frank Lampard’s squad was better, but this one is more cohesive.
“I think this is the most likely England can succeed as everyone plays together and there is no one natural star in the team.
“So I think France come in as favourites, but I don’t see them actually winning the game today because I think they are all individuals and I spoke about the team. Football is a team sport. I think today is going to make the French shed a few tears.”
Yousef Osman, 27, an Egyptian student living in London was not so sure.
“I think it’s going to be a very tough game for England,” he said.
“France are a much better squad but England is on a high now. They have been playing well since the tournament started. But it’s France. They won the World Cup in 2018 and they are just a very good team. So I think France will go through but it will be very close. I would say like 2-1 to France.”
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
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
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Rating: 3.5/5
Bio
Age: 25
Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering
Favourite colour: White
Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai
Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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Japan
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Canada
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