2022 World Cup – Wednesday 07 December 2022
Yesterday I reflected that there hadn’t been a shock in the last sixteen fixtures to date and then it was delivered in the first game of the day.
Morocco 0 (0) – (0) 0 Spain AET. Morocco win 3-0 on penalties (Stadium 974, Doha)
Many teams find the weight of expectation or the ghosts of winning teams of the past too much to handle. Look at Brazil in 2014 when hosting the World Cup. They were trying to put to bed the loss in 1950 to Uruguay but instead were humiliated by Germany 7-1 in the 2014 Semi-Final. For Spain, La Roja, any side now has to deal with the team that swept all before them between 2008 and 2012 when they won two European titles (2002 and 2012) and the World Cup (2010). Like that great squad back then, Spain would dominate possession but had the finish to go with it. In the Morocco game, Spain had 77% of the ball (1.109 passes) but only one shot on target and that was what cost them dear the good old fashioned ability to ensure possession is converted into goals. Credit to Morocco who defended superbly but still managed two shots on target. Overall it wasn’t a great watch even into extra-time when so much was at stake. The drama inevitability came with penalties, when heroes were made, and villains marked for life. Goalkeeper Bounou proved to be the Moroccan hero as Spain couldn’t find what they were looking for – a converted penalty. And so it proved to be a beautiful day for Morocco as Madrid born Hakimi stepped up and scored with a ‘Panenka’ to send the African side through.
Portugal 6 (2) – (0) 1 Switzerland (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)
Portugal scorers: Goncalo Ramos (17′, 51′, 67′), Pepe (33′), Guerreiro (55′), Rafael Leao (90’+2’). Switzerland scorer: Akanji (58′)
The trouble with anything Portugal related is that it always seems to come back to one man – Cristiano Ronaldo. For this game following his tantrums after being subbed in Portugal’s last outing he was dropped to the bench which became the story along with the continuing saga of where his next club will be. Thankfully there was a bigger story to be had that, being the destruction by Portugal of a strangely out of sorts Swiss team. Ronaldo’s replacement, Benfica youngster Goncalo Ramos scored a well taken hat-trick with the best of the goals for Portugal saved to last from Rafael Leao. Portugal a better side without Ronaldo? One thing though Portugal showed their Iberian cousins Spain how to do it – 48% possession, 9 shots on target.
That game in Lusail concluded the last sixteen ties and leaves us with the following Quarter Final games which begin on Friday, as the action takes a couple of days rest.
Croatia v Brazil (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan)
Netherlands v Argentina (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)
Morocco v Portugal (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha)
England v France (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)