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The Beautiful Game’s Turbulent Trek Towards Paris 2024

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Just two days before the opening ceremony, Morocco and Argentina faced off in Saint-Etienne, with the former emerging as 2-1 victors. However, the match will be remembered for its controversial ending. After Argentina equalized in the dying moments of added time, crowd trouble ensued, with projectiles raining down from the stands and spectators invading the pitch. The players were escorted off, and after a two-hour delay, they returned to play out the final minutes in an empty stadium. The late drama didn’t end there, as Argentina’s equalizer was eventually disallowed for offside, sealing Morocco’s win. The match left a sour taste in the mouth of Argentina coach Javier Mascherano, who branded the crowd trouble as a “disgrace” that “poisoned the tournament.” Wednesday also saw Israel’s footballers take on Mali under heightened security, with 1,000 police officers keeping watch and an “anti-terrorist perimeter” in place. Israel’s participation in the Paris Games had been a contentious ...