Morocco’s players celebrate their historic qualification for the semifinals. /
World Cup Qatar 2022
The Maghrebi team fires Cristiano Ronaldo and becomes the first African team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup
After 21 editions, an African team has qualified for the semifinals of a World Cup. Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana brushed against the feat, but finally it was Morocco that opened a door that had been closed for 92 years. Their triumph over Portugal marks the bitter farewell to Cristiano Ronaldo, once again a substitute, and the ecstasy of a supporter whose dreams were limited to getting past the group stage.
Morocco forms a block of reinforced cement. Reinforced cement blocks are reliable, solid, effective. They are not, however, attractive. No one in their right mind would sit in a chair and watch a block of reinforced cement for hours, no matter how well finished it was. Morocco knows that, but it doesn’t matter. He has understood that his way to success is that the cement sets as quickly as possible and the feet of his rivals remain petrified, immobile, ineffective. Portugal, however, is supposed to be of higher quality, with or without Cristiano Ronaldo, but got caught up in the Moroccan quicksand and couldn’t find a way to break free.
The Moroccans openly despise possession and hit the ball without regard. His thing is not poetry, but neighborhood prose, with misspellings and swear words. Regregui builds his double wall on the field and then lets his players run if they find the opportunity. And they find it. If En-Nesiry or Amallah had Richarlison’s foot or Mbappé’s strike, Morocco would have gone into the break with two or three goals difference, but had to settle for one. The Sevilla forward bid for a ball hanging in the area and before the bad start of Diogo Costa, who ran into Rúben Dias, the ball ended up tamely in the goal. Portugal was able to equalize just a few seconds later, in an action that would have opened the news, but Bruno Fernandes’ direct shot from the right wing ended up crashing into the crossbar.
1
Morocco
Bono, Achraf Hakimi, El Yamiq, Saiss (Dari, min. 57), Attiat-Allah, Amrabat, Ouhani, Amallah (Cheddira, min. 65), Ziyech (Aboukhlal, min. 82), Boufal (Jabrane, min. 82). ) and En-Nesyri (Benoun, min. 65).
0
Portugal
Diogo Costa, Dalot (Horta, min. 79), Pepe, Rúben Dias, Guerreiro (Joao Cancelo, min. 51), Bernardo Silva, Rúben Neves (Cristiano Ronaldo, min. 51), Otávio (Vitinha, min. 69), Bruno Fernandes, Joao Félix and Gonçalo Ramos (Leao, min. 69).
Gol:
1-0: min. 42, En-Nesyri.Referee:
Facundo Tello (Argentina). He booked Dari and Vitinha and sent Cheddira off.Incidences:
Quarterfinal match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, played at the Al Thumama stadium. 44,000 viewers.
At the start of the second half, Morocco was on the verge of extending their lead, thanks to a header from El Yamiq almost on the goal line that Diogo Costa cleared as best he could. Fernando Santos then decided to pardon Cristiano Ronaldo, who was received by his fans with the somewhat desperate enthusiasm that messiahs arouse. Portugal began a continuous siege of the Moroccan wall, but they saw themselves reflected in the Spanish mirror. In front they had a team that defended with ten players (four a little further forward and six on the penalty area line) who barely left any gaps free.
Although he gained some momentum on the left flank with the entry of Leao, the Moroccans continued to spin the concrete mixer with the indefatigable work of Amrabat and Ouhani, the number 8 that amazed Luis Enrique and who taught another lesson against Portugal. And if the Portuguese found a breach in the wall, like Joao Félix in the 80th minute or Cristiano in the 90th minute, Bono was there to seal it. When the referee decreed the end of the game, the Moroccan players erupted in jubilation on the field while Cristiano Ronaldo entered the locker room with his head down. He cried.
