It had been more than an hour since Anissa Lahmari had scored the goal that put Morocco in front, the one that was poised to deliver another historic win for her team at its first Women’s World Cup.
But it was not over yet. And so Morocco’s players had to wait.
They huddled together around a staff member’s cellphone as Germany bombed balls upfield, as it tried to thread passes through a stingy South Korea defense and as it lofted hopeful ones over it. A Germany goal, any goal, would save its World Cup and dash Morocco’s improbable dream of advancing to the knockout rounds. The minutes ticked on, and on, and then suddenly, it was over.
Morocco had beaten Colombia, 1-0. Germany had not beaten South Korea, 1-1. And after all the minutes, and all the waiting, that was all it took: Morocco, a team in its first World Cup, a team that had never won a game in the tournament a week ago but now has won two in a row, was through. And it didn’t seem to know what to do.
When the referee’s whistle blew in the Germany game, Morocco’s players broke their huddle and ran. They ran in search of hugs. They ran to find teammates. A few ran just to run.
Morocco had already won, of course. The first North African team to qualify for the Women’s World Cup, and the first to field a player…
