Yasin Bounu was born in Canada. Ashraf Hakimi was born in Madrid. Nusair Mazrawi was born in the Netherlands. Romain Sayss was born in France. Sofiane Amrabat was born in the Netherlands. Selim Amalakh was born in Belgium, Sofiane Boufal was born in France, Walid Sedira was born in Italy. Hakim Sieges was born in Holland.

These are the nine players that Walid Regragui (born in France) used in the match. Moroccoagainst Spain.

They contribute to the unparalleled success of the Strangers football team (all players play in Europe), a country most of us know from travel shows, some trips to Marrakesh, Casablanca, the 1942 film of the same name, its famous cuisine, music by Lorina Makenit, Saeed Avit and Hisham El Gerousa, as well as the small dramas that live every day by those who decide to secretly cross to opposite shores in the dark to avoid the Spanish Coast Guard.

What if they make a living, scattered throughout Europe, like millions of their compatriots. The Moroccans went to this World Cup to add one more reason to talk about them all over the world.

With the recipe “a la the Greek national team 2004” they looked into the eyes of all opponents, conceded only one goal (and that was Agerd’s own goal against Canada), and took – comfortably enough – first place in their group. From a group that had firm favorites Belgium and Croatia.

The awesome kids of Regraga spent… harmlessly two hours of competition with Spain, which the bookmakers gave as one of the favorites to win the trophy, and in the penalty shoot-out they showed that fear does not concern them. They scored three times, the Spaniards none, and now the Moroccans have circled the next Iberian goal in their block: Ronaldo’s Portugal and … others. Team with quality but also with many leaks.

Football has proved that names and traditions do not play a role when the time comes for big competitions, when hard times (knockouts) begin, when everything can be decided in one match. When everything can be judged by unity, faith, love for the shirt, by … the gleam of the eyes.

At this year’s World Cup, we saw not only sets of players, but also real teams. The Moroccans managed to seal their dressing rooms, free their minds and get their compatriots, most of them suffering, out into the streets.

Even if they lose to their northern neighbors on Saturday night, they will surely win another trophy at this World Cup. They became the only team that broke the chain of favorites and made noise in the top eight.

A team that has preserved a precious football myth, where the powerless can stand tall and look proudly into the eyes of the strong…