The Atlas Lions – the first Arab and African team to make it to a World Cup semifinal – had beaten Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their adventure in Qatar. But France took their chances in a closely-fought game on Wednesday evening, beating Morocco 2-0.

Morocco will be back in action on Saturday in the third-place playoff before they head home. But their run in Qatar made World Cup history and generated an outpouring of pride among Arab and African nations.

United States website Bleacher Report, and United Kingdom-based Goal magazine spoke for many when reflecting on events after the game: