World Cup Clash Divides Franco-Moroccan Couple: Morocco vs France Sparks Friendly Rivalry

Karim, an employee in a retirement home, and his wife Julie Hadji, a teacher by profession, settled in Swansea (south Wales) in 2011 and live in the Morriston neighborhood with their daughter Nora. Football is one of their hobbies. A few hours before the match between Morocco and France, this Franco-Moroccan couple is divided on the team to support: the Atlas Lions or the Blues.

"It’s tense!," Karim, originally from Fez, confides to Wales Online. "We are both football fans and we both want our teams to win. We’ve joked about it, we’re so excited. I never thought we [Morocco] would make it to the World Cup semi-finals - and I never thought we’d be up against France!"

Karim hopes the Atlas Lions will beat the Blues and qualify for the final. "I hope Morocco will win, we believe in our team, we believe in our coach. I think the score could be 1-0, we just need a little luck. My wife, she’s from Toulouse in southern France and she thinks France will win 1-0." Tonight, the couple will watch the final at home with their friends. They have already placed the flags of Morocco and France in their home among the Christmas decorations.