WORLD CUP TV

QUARTERFINALS MOROCCO VS. PORTUGAL

Where: Al Thumama Stadium

Time: 7 a.m. PST

TV: Channel 11, Telemundo, Peacock Premium

The buzz: Morocco is the feel-good story of this World Cup, a gutty band of underdogs whose selfless, defensive brand of soccer has carried them to the final eight, becoming just the fourth African team and first in 12 years to get that far. Portugal has been just the opposite. Although it has lost only once here, winning its group and then routing Switzerland in group play, Portugal’s camp has been consumed by the ongoing Cristiano Ronaldo soap opera that finally led to his benching in the round of 16. Ronaldo scored on a penalty kick in Portugal’s opener, becoming the first player to score in five World Cups, but he largely has been a distraction since then, arguing that he should have gotten credit for Bruno Fernandes’ first goal in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Uruguay, then complaining after being subbed off in the 65th minute of the final group-play match. That led to his benching against Switzerland, a game in which his replacement, 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, became the first player in two decades to score a hat trick in his World Cup debut. As for who will start Saturday, Portugal coach Fernando Santos declined to say. But Morocco coach Walid Regragui said he hoped his team wouldn’t see Ronaldo. “He’s one of the best players in history and so I’d be delighted if he didn’t play,” Regragui said. The way Regragui’s team has played in this World Cup, it might not make a difference. No opponent has scored against Morocco in four games, the only goal it has conceded coming on an own goal. Canadian-born goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was spectacular in the round-of-16 win over Spain, holding the tournament’s second-highest-scoring team goalless through 120 minutes, than making two saves in the shootout to help Morocco advance on penalties.