Young footballers in an all-Emirati school side are dreaming of representing the UAE at the World Cup in years to come, after being inspired by Morocco's march to glory in Qatar.
The team of 10-year-olds have watched on in awe as the Atlas Lions first roared past highly regarded Belgium to secure a place in the knockout stages before shocking 2010 world champions Spain in a dramatic penalty shoot-out on Tuesday.
Morocco became the first Arab nation to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament, with fans from all over the region uniting to cheer them on.
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MOROCCO RATINGS: Bono, 9 – The eccentric keeper performed like his namesake with some fantastic saves, but most importantly, he was the saviour in the shootout. AFP -
Achraf Hakimi, 9 – The audacious PSG sensation rounded off a great defensive display with a panenka to knock out the Spanish. AFP -
Nayef Aguerd, 8 – The West Ham star was disappointed to hobble off with an injury after showcasing great focus throughout to go alongside some key clearances. AFP -
Romain Saiss, 8 – Captain supreme was a vocal leader from start to finish and barely missed a step outside of a needless yellow card. AFP -
Noussair Mazraoui, 7 – After losing a few early battles, Mazraoui went box to box with great challenges and a nice effort that tested the keeper in the first half. EPA -
Azzedine Ounahi, 8 – Cleared everything up just in front of the defence and always looked like an important presence on the counter. AFP -
Sofyan Amrabat, 9 – Looked strong whenever he was challenged, never stopped running and prevented several key through balls from reaching the box. EPA -
Selim Amallah, 8 – The midfielder provided some smart cover when Morocco needed it and had a few nicely-timed interceptions. AFP -
Hakim Ziyech, 8 – Chelsea’s finest came up big with a strong performance at both ends of the pitch, capping it off with a successful penalty. Getty -
Youssef En-Nesyri, 7 – Outside of a few nice plays on the defensive side of things, the big centre forward barely had a meaningful touch. EPA -
Sofiane Boufal, 7 – While he was forced to drop quite deep to get into the action, Boufal showed solid footwork and did a good job of hunting down the ball. EPA -
SUBS: Abde Ezzalzouli, 7 – Worked hard to make things happen down the flank despite not having many big opportunities. EPA -
Walid Cheddira, 5 – The substitute forward had three golden opportunities to put Spain away, but unfortunately, he didn’t take any of them. AP -
Abdelhamid Sabiri, 8 – After some amazing moments at the back, Sabiri buried his penalty to send Morocco on their way to victory. PA -
Jawad El Yamiq, 7 – Did well to shield the ball every time he was called upon and saved Morocco from late heartbreak at the end of extra time. AP -
Yahya Attiyat Allah, 7 – The no-nonsense defender held off his man, kept his composure when needed and did his job perfectly. Getty -
Badr Benoun, N/A – Didn’t have much time to make an impact in what served as a brief cameo prior to the shootout, in which he missed a penalty. Getty -
SPAIN RATINGS: Unai Simon, 7 - Couldn’t quite hold a 32nd minute powerful shot from Mazraoui but then grabbed hold of it. Saved a 104th minute shot from Cheddira. Saved Morocco’s third penalty. Getty -
Jordi Alba, 7 - Gave the ball away which led to Morocco’s best chance of the first half. Up against tactically disciplined opponents who limited his advances. EPA -
Aymeric Laporte, 8 - Defended well. Key header away in a spell of Moroccan pressure on 43. Booked on 76. Had a free header on 95 minutes and got a touch to stop a Moroccan chance on goal. AFP -
Rodri, 8 - The Manchester City defender and his club teammate Laporte completed more passes than the entire Morocco team. Little got past them, but when they were beaten Morocco had three solid chances. AFP -
Marcos Llorente, 6 - Not usually a right back, it showed too often in front of the predominantly Moroccan contingent of the 44,667 present. AFP -
Sergio Busquets, 6 - Spain had 81% of possession but while Busquets normally has one of the highest involvement rates, Morocco squeezed him and his 57 touches (after 90 minutes) compared badly to 168 for Rodri and 149 for Laporte immediately behind him. 120th minute shot blocked as he pushed forward. Had his penalty, Spain’s third, saved. AFP -
Pedri, 6 - Difficult to advance against the tenacious Amrabat as Spain went to extra time for the fifth successive time in a major tournament. EPA -
Gavi, 6 - The youngest player to start a knock-out game at the World Cup since Pele, his 25th minute shot was pushed on to the bar – though it was offside. AFP -
Dani Olmo, 5 - Played in an attack which only had one shot on target in the first half, the lowest ever for Spain in a World Cup match. He made it two on 54 with a strike on target from a tight angle. His 94th minute free-kick was goal-bound and well saved. Reuters -
Marco Asensio, 5 - Smashed a shot into the side netting after a brilliant run to beat the offside trap. And that was about it against a highly competent defence. AFP -
Ferran Torres, 5 - Nutmegged the excellent Mazraoui after 47 and won a free-kick when pulled back. No shots, let alone on target and no key balls as Spain were stifled by their neighbours. AP -
SUBS: Carlos Soler, 6 - On for Gavi on 63. Whipped a 90th minute free-kick in. Took Spain’s second penalty - poor and saved. AFP -
Alvaro Morata, 5 - On for Asensio after 63. Ran into the Morocco box on 69. Struck a shot across goal on 81. Poor header in 90th minute from a Soler cross. Couldn’t find a final pass in a 116th minute attack. AP -
Nico William, 5 - On for Torres after 75. Lively. Set up Morata with a shot. Then brought off himself. AP -
Alejandro Balde, 6 - On for Alba after 97. Shot blocked two minutes later. EPA -
Ansu Fati, 6 - On for Olmo on 97. Brought energy to Spain’s attack. AFP -
Pablo Sarabia, 6 - On for Williams after 118 and hit a very good ball in – then hit the post with his own shot after 123 minutes, the last play of the game. Missed Spain’s first penalty. Getty
The newly formed squad at Gems Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis are hoping the determined North Africans can go all the way ― even if many of the pupils have a soft spot for the Samba stars of Brazil.
Abdulla Alfarsi, 10, started playing football when he was only three years old.
The remarkable achievements of Morocco have given the sixth-year pupil the belief that he too could one day shine on the world stage.
Amazed by Morocco
"The teams I'm supporting are Brazil and Morocco and I'm really proud of Morocco because they're the first Arab team to ever reach the quarter-finals,” said Abdulla.
“It just amazed me and gave me hope that I can maybe reach that level one day as an Arab boy who has a dream to play professionally.
“My goal is to reach the highest level possible and I'm hoping that I can do that one day. My goal is to become professional football player and make the UAE proud.”
Saif Alefari, is also backing Brazil and the magnificent Moroccans.
“I am supporting Brazil, but part of me just wants Morocco to win. I would like to play for my country one day,” said Saif who loves sports and also plays volleyball and basketball.
Adulrahman Al Blooshi got so excited at watching Morocco win that he did a victory lap around in his house late on Tuesday.
He said he and his family were willing on the Arab nation.
“I am supporting Morocco but also a tiny part of me is supporting Brazil," said Adulrahman.
“It felt amazing to watch Morocco win,” said the pupil who watched the game with his family.
World Cup made for perfect kick-off
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Morocco's players celebrate after their 3-0 penalty shoot-out victory in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Spain at Education City Stadium on December 6, 2022, in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Getty -
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning penalty. AFP -
Morocco goalkeeper Bono saves from Sergio Busquets of Spain during the penalty shoot-out. EPA -
Dejected Spain players after the match. AFP -
Morocco players celebrate the win. AFP -
Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot-out against Spain. Getty -
Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrate after the team's victory. Getty -
Achraf Hakimi of Morocco scores the team's fourth and winning penalty in the shoot-out against Spain. Getty -
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi scores the winning penalty. Reuters -
Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon watches Morocco's Achraf Hakimi's winning penalty hits the back of the net. AP -
Goalkeeper Bono of Morocco saves the third penalty by Sergio Busquets of Spain. Getty -
Morocco players react after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saves a penalty from Spain's Carlos Soler. PA -
Morocco's Hakim Ziyech scores a penalty shoot-out. AP -
Bono of Morocco makes a save against a penalty by Carlos Soler of Spain in the penalty shoot-out. Getty -
Unai Simon of Spain makes a save against Walid Cheddira of Morocco. Getty -
Spain's Marco Asensio hits the side netting with a shot. AP -
Spain's Marco Asensio after hitting the side netting with an attempt on goal. AFP -
Morocco keeper Bono punches the ball clear. Getty -
Morocco goalkeeper Bono is put under pressure by Marco Asensio of Spain. Getty -
Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads a good chance over the bar. AP -
Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads the ball over the bar. AFP -
Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco battles for possession with Ferran Torres of Spain. Getty -
Youssef En-Nesyri, Sergio Busquets and Nayef Aguerd challenge for the ball. EPA -
Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui and Spain's Ferran Torres battle. AP -
Spain's forward Marco Asensio fights for the ball with Morocco's Romain Ghanem Saiss. AFP -
Morocco keeper Bono saves a shot by Spain's Gavi. AP -
Spain manager Luis Enrique talks to Gavi. EPA -
Morocco keeper Bono tips a shot from Spain's Gavi on to the bar. Getty -
Spain's Gavi talks to Argentinian referee Fernando Rapallini after fouling Morocco's Sofiane Boufal. AFP -
Spain's Dani Olmo grimaces in pain. AP -
Spain's Aymeric Laporte challenges for the ball against Morocco's Walid Cheddira. AP -
Morocco's Nayef Aguerd walks off the pitch after picking up an injury. AP -
Morocco midfielder Hakim Ziyech talks with coach Walid Regragui. AFP -
Morocco's goalkeeper Bono punches clear. AFP -
Aymeric Laporte of Spain is booked. EPA
Jason Smith, head of academy football at the school, established the team in November.
They have only played one game against another Dubai outfit so far, but have more matches planned in the new term.
“The World Cup didn't have any massive impact on my decision to start this team but it's just been lucky that it coincided with the World Cup," said Mr Smith.
"The whole thing with Morocco doing really well really inspires them to kick on.
"Because the boys are just 10 years old, we talked about how, in 12 years' time, they could be playing at a World Cup and representing the UAE.
"The good thing is because the boys are such a young age, I've got a lot of times to mould them and hopefully help them to realise their dreams.”
Mr Smith wants to nurture future Emirati football talent and aims to help the pupils play against as many schools as possible.
His intention is ensure any Emirati who is at their school and wants to be involved in the squad can do so easily.
