'Where is Mbappe?!' Tunisian fans relish in beating France despite disqualification

Record ID: 1700150

  • Title: 'Where is Mbappe?!' Tunisian fans relish in beating France despite disqualification
  • Date: 30th November 2022
  • Summary: AL RAYYAN, QATAR (NOVEMBER 30, 2022) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) TUNISIA FANS WALKING AWAY FROM STADIUM TUNISIAN FANS INCLUDING CHILDREN POSING FOR CAMERA TUNISIAN FANS JUMPING UP AND DOWN, SOME SAYING (French) “Where is Mbappe?”/ FANS CHANTING, ONE KISSING TUNISIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) TUNISIA FAN FROM KORBA, FATIMA NAFATI SAYING: “Amazing, amazing. We didn’t ha
  • Embargoed: 14th December 2022 18:37
  • Keywords: FIFA World Cup fans
  • Location: AL RAYYAN AND DOHA, QATAR
  • City: AL RAYYAN AND DOHA, QATAR
  • Country: Qatar
  • Topics: Middle East,Sport,World Cup
  • Reuters ID: LVA001323029112022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Tunisians celebrated a historic but bittersweet World Cup victory over France on Wednesday (November 30) as they defeated their former colonial power but still crashed out of a tournament marked by a remarkable string of Arab wins over soccer powerhouses.
    Fans waved their national flag at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, savouring the moment even though their side did not make it through to the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup, the first in an Arab country.
    The victory marked another proud World Cup moment for Arab fans still celebrating Saudi Arabia's historic win over Argentina and Morocco's defeat of Belgium - victories applauded across the Arab region despite its deep political divisions.
    “Normally Morocco and Senegal will play well in their next matches. And of course Saudi Arabia. They played well against Argentina and I hope it will continue this way,” said Ali Bhar from Tunis, after watching the France-Tunisia game.
    In Qatar, Saudi fans awaiting their country's decisive match against Mexico later on Wednesday celebrated Tunisia's win, another show of the pan-Arab unity that has been a feature of the tournament, said Abeer Awaisha, a Tunisian fan in Qatar.
    "We didn’t expect (Tunisia to defeat France) because France is a strong team but thank God we were better and we played very well and thank God for winning," Awaisha said.
    Many Tunisians planned to watch Saudi Arabia's decisive match against Mexico later on Wednesday.
    Saudi Arabia are seeking to make it into the last 16 for the first time since their debut at the tournament in 1994.
    Morocco, in second place in their group but level on four points with top team Croatia, play their final group game against Canada on Thursday.
    If both Saudi Arabia and Morocco get through, it would be the first time two Arab sides have made it out of the group stage.
    Host nation Qatar have been knocked out.
    Some Arab leaders attending the World Cup have echoed the sense of pan-Arab solidarity during matches.
    Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - who have mended ties after years of animosity - wrapped scarves and flags of each other's country around them as they watched their matches.
    (Production: Hamuda Hassan, Michaela Cabrera)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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