Hind Sabouni bristles with pride as she recalls her countryB次元官网网址檚 history-making World Cup run as it eliminated one European soccer powerhouse and former Africa colonial power after another B次元官网网址� Belgium, Spain and Cristiano RonaldoB次元官网网址檚 Portugal B次元官网网址� to become the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals.

For the 26-year-old English teacher in MoroccoB次元官网网址檚 capital, and many of her countrymen both inside the North African nation and throughout the diaspora, itB次元官网网址檚 about to get more complicated. Next up is France: MoroccoB次元官网网址檚 former colonial ruler for much of the first half of the 20th century.

WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 match has political and emotional resonance for both nations. It dredges up everything thatB次元官网网址檚 complex about the relationship in which France still wields considerable economic, political and cultural influence.

B次元官网网址淭his game is one of a kind,B次元官网网址� Sabouni said. B次元官网网址淓specially since France is next to beat.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e can show the rest of the world that Morocco is no longer FranceB次元官网网址檚 backyard.B次元官网网址�

For the former protectorate, the match against the defending champion is an opportunity to show that Morocco is a formidable foe B次元官网网址� on the soccer pitch at least B次元官网网址� 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, MoroccoB次元官网网址檚 relationship with France has changed. Sabouni said her generation of Moroccans is tired of FranceB次元官网网址檚 dominance. Young Moroccans, she said, B次元官网网址渟peak 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.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淓ven though this is just a football game, some people view it as an opportunity for revenge,B次元官网网址� Sabouni said.

But not everyone.

Kenza Bartali, a communications professional in Rabat, sees no political overtones to the match. She obtained her masters degree in France, and lived for two years in Paris and the southern cities of Nice and Toulon between 2016 and 2018. She made B次元官网网址渨onderful friendsB次元官网网址� who are still her friends today. B次元官网网址淢ost Moroccan students were treated with respect,B次元官网网址� the 26-year-old said.

Still, there is no doubt which team sheB次元官网网址檚 supporting.

B次元官网网址淚 sincerely hope that Morocco advances to the final,B次元官网网址� Bartali said. B次元官网网址淚 am aware that it will be difficult because France is a very good team, but we are hoping for the best.B次元官网网址�

SabouniB次元官网网址檚 sentiments resonate with Moroccans and other North Africans in France. Although the younger generation of immigrants from Africa and Asia and their descendants appear to be more at ease with multiple identities and languages in France, they still face institutional discrimination, racial and ethnic prejudice in public life, economic hardship and lack of job opportunities.

Like in previous World Cups, France once again has turned to their national soccer team made up of players from diverse backgrounds as evidence that the country has indeed become a melting pot despite lurking prejudice, stoked against immigrants by elected right-wing politicians.

B次元官网网址淐ultural changes and changes in life on the ground do have an effect and the team represents that,B次元官网网址� said Laurent Dubois, a professor at University of Virginia in Charlottesville who has authored two books on French and international soccer.

B次元官网网址淭he way the players inhabit being French and donB次元官网网址檛 seem to have an issue with also being African or anything else at the same time is an antidote to the immigrant resentment on the right.B次元官网网址�

In Morocco, people have embraced the teamB次元官网网址檚 foreign-born players as their native sons. They welcome the experience and professionalism they bring from EuropeB次元官网网址檚 top clubs and are proud they chose Morocco as their national team when they could have played for the countries of their births, from Spain to Canada to Belgium and beyond.

The Morocco national team depends heavily on the diaspora, with 14 of the squadB次元官网网址檚 26 players born abroad, including their French-born coach, Walid Regragui, the highest proportion for any team at the World Cup.

Like MoroccoB次元官网网址檚 supporters at home and an estimated 5 million scattered around Europe and beyond, many players grapple with family tales of colonial history, the challenges of immigration and questions of national loyalty. They want desperately to detach from the burdens of the past and win a place in the World Cup final B次元官网网址� whether home for them is in France or Morocco, or Belgium, Canada, Tunisia, Algeria or elsewhere.

B次元官网网址淢ost of the Moroccan players, who were born abroad, chose Morocco as their national team because they feel they play for more than just to win a football match,B次元官网网址� said Maher Mezahi, a Marseille-based Algerian journalist covering African football. B次元官网网址淭hey play to elevate national pride and to make their family proud.B次元官网网址�

For Regragui, his and his playerB次元官网网址檚 dual identities are meaningless in the biggest match the squad has faced.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a dual national, and thatB次元官网网址檚 an honor and a pleasure,B次元官网网址� the Moroccan coach said. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 an honor and a pleasure to face France. But IB次元官网网址檓 the Morocco coach and weB次元官网网址檙e going to be playing the best team in the world. The most important thing is to get through to the final.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hen we play for the Moroccan national team, we are Moroccans,B次元官网网址� Regragui said.

B次元官网网址擳arik El Barakah And Barbara Surk, The Associated Press