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Paris, France – Café El Emir in Paris smelled of recent mint and hookah smoke. Behind the counter, Samy was pouring mint tea for purchasers who had trickled in to observe Tunisia tackle France within the World Cup 2022.
Earlier than the match, he was not assured Tunisia would pull by way of.
“That is going to be Tunisia’s final match of the World Cup,” Samy instructed Al Jazeera. “The chances are stacked in opposition to us.”
Samy’s conclusion earlier than the sport: “C’est chaud (It doesn’t look good).”
And he was proper. Tunisia shocked reigning champions France 1-0 however had been nonetheless knocked out after Australia beat Denmark within the different group match.
El Emir had broadcast all of Tunisia’s World Cup matches, serving tea and hookahs to a packed home of Tunisian followers who gathered in entrance of two flat-screen TVs inside and on the terrace.
The café sits smack in the course of Paris’s Belleville neighbourhood, which is the place to go to for genuine fish couscous, rose-flavoured pastries or different Tunisian specialities within the French capital.
For many years, Belleville has been dwelling to 1000’s of Tunisians in France. On Wednesday, they got here out in droves to help their dwelling nation in opposition to their adopted one.
Greater than a soccer match
The gang at El Emir was numerous – young and old, women and men, talking French and Arabic and typically each on the identical time.
Halil, 25, stated he arrived in France from Tunis a number of months in the past. He admitted it was unusual watching his new dwelling tackle the nation of his start however stated he knew which group obtained his help.
“I like France, however I’m rooting for Tunisia,” Halil instructed Al Jazeera. “Tunisia is my group.”
France is dwelling to the biggest Tunisian expat group – at the very least 187,000 Tunisia-born folks stay within the nation and much more French nationals are descendants of Tunisian immigrants. Lots of people watching the match at El Emir had ties to each international locations, which made this match a bit peculiar.
“This match goes past simply sport,” stated Tunisia fan Mohammed. “Now we have a shared historical past, financial ties, cultural ties.”
Mohammed got here to France from Tunisia aged 5 and stated he nonetheless feels strongly linked to his birthplace.
A rollercoaster of feelings
Whereas many followers at El Emir appeared fairly relaxed because the match started, they rapidly began inching ahead of their seats and wringing their fingers.
Tunisia dominated early on and the group liked it. They burst into singing and chanting: “We’ll play and we’ll win.”
When hometown hero Wahbi Khazri scored the second-half purpose, the followers on El Emir’s terrace had been overjoyed. The entire place exploded.
“That is Tunisia’s sport!” exclaimed Mohammed Messaoudi. “I wasn’t certain at first, however now we’ve it within the bag.”
That temper didn’t final although, as a result of though Tunisia had been profitable, it wasn’t sufficient to progress. A number of folks began watching the Australia-Denmark match on their telephones.
All hope appeared misplaced when Antoine Griezmann scored a purpose in harm time, and El Emir’s terrace began emptying as dissatisfied followers poured out. A couple of minutes later, those that remained exploded into cries of pleasure. The purpose was dominated out. Tunisia had gained.
“We did it. We gained,” they shouted.
It’s the primary time Tunisia has defeated France in a World Cup, an upset that can possible go down in historical past. However for a lot of Tunisian followers in Paris, the victory is tinged with disappointment.
“It’s a historic victory, we beat the world champions,” stated 43-year-old Tunisian fan Chakib Ellili. “However it’s nonetheless a bit bittersweet since we’re not shifting ahead. We missed our probability after we misplaced to Australia in our second match, however we’re very pleased with our group.”
Mohammed, the 29-year-old Tunisian who has lived in Paris since he was 5, stated he would help different Arab groups like Morocco or Saudi Arabia shifting ahead.
Samy and his coworker Taoufik at El Emir stated their resolution was straightforward. They’re cheering on France.
“I’m a Tunisia fan, however I’m additionally a France fan,” stated Taoufik. “At all times have been, all the time will probably be.”
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