Café El Emir’s patrons have ties to their adopted nation France and their dwelling in Tunisia. There was just one victor.
Paris, France – Café El Emir in Paris smelled of contemporary mint and hookah smoke. Behind the counter, Samy was pouring mint tea for patrons 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 via.
“That is going to be Tunisia’s final match of the World Cup,” Samy instructed Al Jazeera. “The percentages are stacked towards 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 midst 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 hundreds of Tunisians in France. On Wednesday, they got here out in droves to help their dwelling nation towards their adopted one.
Greater than a soccer match
The group at El Emir was various – young and old, women and men, talking French and Arabic and typically each on the similar time.
Halil, 25, mentioned he arrived in France from Tunis a couple of months in the past. He admitted it was unusual watching his new dwelling tackle the nation of his start however mentioned he knew which group received his help.
“I like France, however I’m rooting for Tunisia,” Halil instructed Al Jazeera. “Tunisia is my group.”
France is dwelling to the most important Tunisian expat group – at the least 187,000 Tunisia-born individuals dwell 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,” mentioned Tunisia fan Mohammed. “We have now a shared historical past, financial ties, cultural ties.”
Mohammed got here to France from Tunisia aged 5 and mentioned he nonetheless feels strongly related to his birthplace.
A rollercoaster of feelings
Whereas many followers at El Emir appeared fairly relaxed because the match started, they shortly began inching ahead of their seats and wringing their arms.
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 now we have it within the bag.”
That temper didn't final although, as a result of regardless that Tunisia had been profitable, it wasn’t sufficient to progress. A number of individuals began watching the Australia-Denmark match on their telephones.
All hope appeared misplaced when Antoine Griezmann scored a purpose in damage time, and El Emir’s terrace began emptying as disenchanted followers poured out. A couple of minutes later, those that remained exploded into cries of pleasure. The purpose was dominated out. Tunisia had received.
“We did it. We received,” they shouted.
It’s the primary time Tunisia has defeated France in a World Cup, an upset that may doubtless 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,” mentioned 43-year-old Tunisian fan Chakib Ellili. “But it surely’s nonetheless a bit bittersweet since we’re not shifting ahead. We missed our likelihood once 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, mentioned he would help different Arab groups like Morocco or Saudi Arabia shifting ahead.
Samy and his coworker Taoufik at El Emir mentioned their resolution was simple. They’re cheering on France.
“I’m a Tunisia fan, however I’m additionally a France fan,” mentioned Taoufik. “At all times have been, at all times will probably be.”
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