Morocco Make History; Cristiano & Portugal OUT
Morocco beat Portugal, 1-0, in the quarter-finals at the FIFA World Cup.
The North Africans have defied the odds at the showpiece event in Qatar, making history as the first Arab or African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Youssef En-Nesyri scored the decisive goal in the first-half, a towering header which got the better of Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Once they went in front there was no looking back for the men in red and green. For the entirety of this tournament, Morocco have been watertight and robust in defence, and they put up another solid display to deny Portugal at Al-Thumama Stadium.
The Portuguese threw everything they had, but ultimately it wasn’t enough to earn them a place in the last-four in the Middle East. A Seleção had reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2006 and they were widely expected to overcome the Moroccan underdogs.
It wasn’t to be, as the Atlas Lions etched their name into football folklore. Walid Regragui’s men previously beat Spain on penalties to advance to the quarters for the first time in World Cup history. They became the fourth African nation to reach the last-eight and the first since Ghana 12 years ago.
🇲🇦 Morocco at the 2022 World Cup:
— 365Scores (@365Scores) December 10, 2022
✅ Finished first in a group with Croatia and Belgium
✅ Eliminated Spain in the last 16
✅ Eliminated Portugal in the quarter-final.#MAR | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/atydwZlKgw
Earlier in the tournament, Morocco took seven points from nine in Group F, becoming the first African nation to top a World Cup group this century.
The Moroccans have yet to concede a goal to an opposing player at Qatar 2022; the only goal they have let in came against Canada, as defender Nayef Aguerd deflected the ball into his own net.
Morocco will face World Cup holders France in the semis, with the chance of competing in the final on December 18.
For the second match in a row, Cristiano Ronaldo was omitted from the starting XI. The Portugal captain entered the fray five minutes after half-time, in an attempt to add to his 118 international goals and get his country out of a losing position to Morocco.
Bruno Fernandes came closest to drawing the Portuguese level; he sit the crossbar in the first-half before skying an effort from the edge of the penalty area in the second period.
Neither Ronaldo nor any of his teammates could conjure anything of significance and the Atlas Lions saw out the contest with a 1-0 triumph over their European opposition.
Considering this was Ronaldo’s last realistic chance of being crowned a world champion, it remains to be seen whether the 37-year-old will persist with international duties in 2023.
No World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo.#FIFAWorldCup | #POR pic.twitter.com/QnQ7BDgX0T
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 10, 2022
Go go Morocco