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Rabat- Dutch football players have recorded videos wishing the best of luck to the Atlas Lions on their World Cup 2018 journey. One of them even sang in Darija (Moroccan Arabic).
Many Dutch footballers have made video clips with hashtags reading “I support the [Atlas] lions in Russia” ahead of the Moroccan team’s opening match on Friday against Iran in St. Petersburg.
Among the Dutch fans are former coach Patrick Kluivert, midfielder Wesley Sneijder, retired footballer Ruud van Nistelrooij, team manager Luis van Gaal, and actor Johnny de Mol.
“Dear brothers, I wish you good luck and success in the World Cup. Let’s go Moroccan team!” said de Mol in Darija, wearing the national team’s red and green kit, signifying the Moroccan flag.
Sneijder sang the popular song “Ya Zina” (Hey, Zina) by Algerian band Babylone, chanting “Hey, Morocco” instead, and gave his thumbs up.
Referring to the World Cup, Kluivert cheered: “Jibouha, Jibouha!” (bring it), as he held a large Moroccan flag.
The Atlas Lions are adorned with Moroccan-Dutch football stars, including Karim Al Ahmadi; Hakim Ziyech; and the Amrabat brothers, Nordin and Sofyan, who helped Morocco qualify for the World Cup.
In addition to the support of their fans, the Atlas Lions also have the full support of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI who wished them “full success” on a phone call with the team’s captain, Mehdi Benatia, and coach, Hervé Renard, according to a Royal Cabinet press statement.
The Atlas Lions, placed in Group B, will play their first match against Iran at 3 p.m. (GMT) on Friday.
Their second game will be against the Portugal team June 20 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, and their final group-stage game will be against Spain on June 25 at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
