US Soccer Star’s Ignorance Backfires as Morocco Thrashes Olympic Team 4-0

"To be honest, I’ve never heard of this team before and I don’t know anything about them, but what’s important is that we’ll win tomorrow," Paredes said before Friday’s match, won by the Atlas Lions by a resounding score of 4-0.

Outraged by the American player’s remarks, Moroccan supporters waited until the end of the Olympic tournament quarterfinal match to respond to him. Moroccan supporters posted on social media images showing Kevin Paredes in tears after the crushing defeat of his team, and receiving words of encouragement from the captain of the Lions, Achraf Hakimi.

"Today, my friend, remember that the Moroccan team is the one that scored four goals against your team," mocked a Moroccan internet user. And another to drive the point home: "Today, after your team conceded four goals, you should know that the scorers of the first, second, third and fourth goals are players of a Moroccan team called the Atlas Lions, the team you said you knew nothing about."

For the first time in its history, the Moroccan team has reached the semifinals of the Olympic tournament. It will face the Spanish team on Monday at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.