Errors bring on Morocco’s end
NO REGRETS: ‘WE SHOULD BE PROUD,’ SAYS COACH
Morocco were seconds away from handing Spain their first defeat in two years on Monday, but their failure to grasp their chance at glory in Kaliningrad was just one in a series of missed opportunities that characterised their World Cup.
Spain claimed a controversial last-gasp equaliser to send the Moroccans packing from the tournament with just one point from their three Group B games.
While the North Africans, at the finals for the first time in 20 years, will feel their performances rated more than that they only had themselves to blame for failing to add to their tally.
An unfortunate, if somewhat bizarre, own goal in stoppage time saw them lose their opener to Iran despite creating the better chances.
Against Portugal, they were the better team over 90 min but could not claw back an equaliser to Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal from an early set piece.
Defeat in those opening encounters eliminated Morocco before their game against Spain, where they again showed potential but were punished for mistakes.
Spanish substitute Iago Aspas struck in stoppage time to earn the dramatic 2-2 draw, the goal originally ruled out for offside but then awarded after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review showed the Moroccan defence had played Aspas onside.
Coach Herve Renard said they had learned valuable lessons in Russia.
“We learnt what it is to play at a very high level. We would have loved to go into the next round but we should not regret anything,” he said. “We should be proud of what we have done.”
Morocco will now look to win next year’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1976. – Reuters