2022 World Cup surprise package Morocco take on Portugal for a place in the semi-finals. Will Cristiano Ronaldo again start on the bench?
Stand strong in defence and look to hit the Spaniards on the break when they had the chance... And if the match had to go to extra-time, well so be it. Ramos' finishing was reminiscent of that of Ronaldo, who came on for the youngster to a huge ovation for the final 20 minutes. For the first time in the tournament, and the first time I can remember in a while, Portugal put on a show. Ziyech sticks a free-kick into the box, En-Nesyri gets head to it but his angles are all wrong and it flies well wide. There's potential for Raphael Guerreiro to get in for Portugal down the left side. Attiat Allah hangs in a hopeful ball from the left, Costa comes to collect it and gets nowhere near it. Otavio sends the ball into the box from the right and Ramos has a lot of work to do to get a header on target, which he couldn't do. It's a strategy that ultimately helped them defeat Spain in the round of 16 and they've arguably had even more success with it in this tie. Thankfully, the worst of the problems seem to be over. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think and screw them It's very strange that a referee from a team that whistles us it's still in the Cup. The Portuguese struggled to open the up and Morocco had chances to finish the game off on the break, which they didn't take.
Portugal all-time leading goal scorer and captain Cristiano Ronaldo dey bench once again.
3mins Whistles ring around di stadium as di Moroccan fans object to an early spell of Portuguese possession. That was a rare opening in this first half for the Selecao! Morocco 1-0 Portugal Half-Time Morocco 1-0 Portugal Full-Time Morocco 1-0 Portugal Di Atlas Lions of Morocco don set new record for World Football as di first African kontri to qualify for di semi-final of di Fifa World Cup.
Morocco break new ground in becoming the first African and Arab country to ever reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Bounou saved again from Joao Felix with seven minutes left as their rivals turned up the pressure. Morocco had already taken the scalps of Belgium and Spain in this tournament, but the win over Portugal is of much greater significance. Morocco break new ground in becoming the first African and Arab country to ever reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Match report as Morocco become the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals with victory over Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal; Youssef En-Neysri ...
Every time the Portuguese got the ball, they got back in numbers. We have changed the mentality of the generation coming after us. We had the quality to win the World Cup and we didn't manage to." That might be a mistake." The goalkeeper kept dropping to the ground. "What did we play the second half? "After what happened yesterday, with Messi talking, all of Argentina talking and the referee comes here. Yet none of those chances compared to the three that fell Portugal's way in the final 10 minutes. It's ok to say that, but when you're constantly bringing the other team onto to you, one person normally falls asleep in danger. "Do not take them lightly. "We conceded a goal that we weren't expecting but... "We didn't play anything in the second half.
Morocco were huge underdogs ahead of their game vs. Portugal but became the first African side to advance to the World Cup semifinals.
- Portugal are 1-7-0 (W-L-D) when trailing at half-time at the World Cup. Morocco: Incredibly, a World Cup semifinal against England or France is next on the agenda at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday at 10 p.m. - En-Nesyri's goal was the second headed goal ever scored by Morocco in World Cup history. - Entering the match, Morocco were on a nine-match unbeaten streak in all competitions: the second-longest among teams still in the World Cup. Eight different players have scored for Fernando Santos' team at the World Cup and it was the wrong moment for almost all of them to have an off day. [Youssef En-Nesyri](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/242736/Youssef-En-Nesyri) got the only goal in a dramatic 1-0 win at Al Thumama and denied Portugal what would have been a place in the last four for the first time for 16 years. If this is the last we see of one of history's great players on this stage then it was a very meek way to bow out. We fought for each ball and we are very happy with the win, and it's very important for us and for the future." Morocco struck a huge blow for African and Arab football by becoming the first team to reach a World Cup semifinal. [Bracket](https://www.espn.com/soccer/bracket) [Highlights and notable moments](#highlights) [Best/worst performers](#bestworst)
Morocco and Portugal will meet for a place in the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, with the well-supported Atlas Lions' aiming to pull off another ...
Given how admirably Ramos performed against Switzerland, it doesn't look like Ronaldo will be in the playing XI here.Either ways, Portugal enter the contest as heavy favourites thanks to the embarrasment of riches they have in their attacking ranks. Morocco have been the surprise package in Qatar. Already the furthest they have ever been at finals and carrying a continent's hopes, the Atlas' Lions have the opportunity to script history on Saturday by becoming the first African team to qualify for the semi-final of a World Cup tournament.