King Hassan receives Moroccan soccer team
Morocco, Sports, 6/27/1998

King Hassan II received on Friday in Rabat the Moroccan soccer team, which returned home the same day coming from France where it made a good showing in the first round of the World Cup, despite being unable to advance.

The king thanked and decorated the players, the coach and technical staff for the team's feats at the France-98 World Cup.

"You have honored Morocco, hoisted higher the flag of the Kingdom and rejoiced the hearts of all Moroccans," the sovereign told the Moroccan players who were warmly welcomed upon their return to the Kingdom.

The king expressed special thanks to coach Henri Michel, pointing out that Morocco will never forget what he did for the national team, and urging him to get prepared for the Olympic games in 2000 and for the World Cup in 2002.

The king also thanked the Moroccan royal soccer federation for its sustained and noteworthy efforts which contributed to the forging of a new team meeting the aspirations of the Moroccan people.

The "Atlas Lions" drew 2-2 against Norway in their opening match and lost their 2nd match against Brazil by 3-0. In their 3rd match, the Moroccans soundly defeated Scotland 3-0, but failed to qualify for the second round.

The Moroccans were ousted at the World Cup's first round after a penalty whistled by U.S. Esfandiar Baharmast in favor of Norway against Brazil in the last two minutes of their game, gave Norway a 2-1 victory over the world champions on a penalty kick and allowed the Norwegians to cruise to the second round at the expense of Morocco.

The Moroccan press and world sports reporters criticized the refereeing, which deprived Morocco and Cameroon of a deserved qualification to the second round.

Morocco's French coach Henri Michel who could not swallow the elimination of his team said "the bitterness will remain in our hearts and memory."

The inhabitants of Rabat and its twin city Sale reserved a special warm welcome to the Atlas Lions, who were cheered and applauded all along the way from the airport to the palace where they were received by the sovereign.

"This welcome spurs us to make further efforts to take up the future challenges," the team's captain Noureddine Naybet told MAP upon arrival in Rabat from Marseille.

The warm welcome and moving tribute of the supporters would surely help the national players forget the injustice they suffered by the refereeing error. "I am so proud... I have never seen such an atmosphere... this support is beyond all our expectations," said defender Smahi Triki, while the team's striker Salaeddine Bassir limited himself to repeating, "It is a great welcome."

Previous Stories:
  Morocco is upset over World Cup   (6/25/1998)
  Heroic Morocco trounces Scotland but fails to qualify   (6/24/1998)

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