Morocco put Spain on spot
Side become first Arab nation to make quarter-finals after victory in penalty shootout
The first World Cup held in an Arab nation has produced the Arab world’s first quarter-finalist. Morocco became only the fourth African country to reach the quarter-finals at the biggest football tournament in the world by beating Spain 3-0 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw through extra time.
The Moroccans were playing in only their second knockout game at a World Cup, an event which is being held in the Middle East for the first time in its nearly 100-year history.
“We felt the support of our fans, be it in Morocco or any other country in the world,” said Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who plays for Spanish club Sevilla and saved two of the three penalties he faced in the shootout.
Achraf Hakimi, who was born in Madrid and previously played for Real Madrid, converted the deciding penalty in the shootout. Abdelhamid Sabiri and Hakim Ziyech, who returned to the national team after a dispute with the previous coach, also scored for Morocco.
Morocco, who reached the round of 16 at the 1986 World Cup in
Mexico, are the only team from outside Europe or South America to make it to the last eight in Qatar.
Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets missed their penalties for Spain, with Sarabia hitting the post.
Sarabia had entered the match in the final minutes of extra time, apparently for the shootout. He replaced Nico Williams, who had
also come in as a substitute earlier in the match.
“It’s my responsibility,” said Spain coach Luis Enrique, who before the match said he had asked his players to practice 1000 spot kicks while with their clubs. “I picked the first three penalty-takers, and then they could decide themselves. But the first three were my decision, and I would’ve done the same thing again.”
Spain were eliminated by host Russia in a penalty shootout at the 2018 World Cup, and by Italy in the semifinals of last year’s European Championship.
“We were unable to score ... so no matter how much we say that we deserved to win for the chances we created and for playing more in their area, it is not going to change anything,” Simo´ n said. “The only thing left for us is to accept that we have been eliminated.”
With Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, the superstar striker’s replacement scored a hat-trick to lead Portugal over Switzerland 6-1 and into the quarter-finals.
Goncalo Ramos, a 21-year-old
forward who only made his Portugal debut last month, made his first start for his country and demonstrated the kind of clinical finishing Ronaldo was once known for.
Ramos scored the opening goal in the 17th minute and added others in the 51st and 67th — by which time chants of “RONALDO! RONALDO!” were swirling around the 89,000-seat Lusail Stadium.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo entered as a substitute in the 72nd minute to loud cheers, though Portugal had the game wrapped up by then with defenders Pepe and Raphael Guerreiro also scoring. Rafael Leao added another in stoppage time.
Manuel Akanji scored for Switzerland.
Portugal advanced to the quarterfinals for the third time, after 1966 and 2006, and will play Morocco on Sunday.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos now has to decide whether to stick with Ramos or restore Ronaldo, the top scorer in men’s international football and one of the game’s greatest ever players.
Ronaldo had a couple of chances after coming on, and even thought he had scored when he ran through
and drove a low shot past Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The goal was disallowed for offside, much to the irritation of the fans — Portuguese or from other countries — who had come to see him.
After the final whistle, as Portugal players stayed on the field to applaud the team’s fans at one end of the stadium, Ronaldo walked off on his own — perhaps wondering where his career goes from here. He is currently without a club after leaving Manchester United midway through the World Cup.
Ronaldo was dropped a day after Santos expressed his unhappiness at the striker’s attitude after he was substituted against South Korea in the team’s final group game.
Ramos was a surprise replacement — he had previously only made three substitute appearances for Portugal — and took his chance.
Ramos, who was only 2 years old when Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in 2003, produced the first hattrick at this year’s World Cup. He also did something Ronaldo has never achieved — score a knockout goal at football’s biggest tournament.