Morocco kept the World Cup dreams of the Arab world alive as they eliminated fancied Spain in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals.
In doing so, it becomes the first Arab country to advance to the last eight, ensuring a breakthrough for the region in the first global tournament in the Middle East, and also became the fourth African side to go this far in World Cup history.
Morocco’s victory added significant gloss to another Arab success at the tournament like Saudi Arabia beating Argentina and Tunisia upsetting holders France in the group phase.
Morocco, who edged Spain 3-0 in the shootout after a 0-0 draw at the end of two hours of energy-sapping action, now has a chance to become both the Arab world and Africa’s first-ever semi-finalists if it continues to use the overwhelming support that has backed it through an impressive array of results.
Morocco’s goalkeeper #01 Yassine Bounou smiles during the penalty shoot-out during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022. (AFP)
They will play on Saturday in the quarterfinal at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium against either Portugal or Switzerland, who are in action later on Tuesday.
The ear-shattering cacophonic combination of singing, drumming, jeering and whistling from Morocco’s supporters has created an atmosphere like no other in Qatar’s stadiums.
They were again the vast majority in the capacity 44,667 crowd at the Education City Stadium, completely drowning out the Spain fans.
There is no ambiguity about their support as they cheer their team and barrack the opposition in equal measure, and the Moroccan players often turn to them for a lift when needed.
Spain’s players react during the penalty shoot-out during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022. (AFP)
Morocco was happy to allow Spain possession but in the end was desperately hanging on for the shootout as it battled injury and fatigue and lived dangerously in the closing stages.
Spain had a dominant 63 percent of the possession in the game and, even given the 30 minutes of extra time, made an extraordinary 1,068 passes, 988 of them successfully completed.
But most of them shuffled from one side to another, rarely producing the penetrative pass Spain were looking for. Morocco had moments of enterprise on the counterattack and was carried by the individual efforts of the likes of midfield destroyer Sofyan Amrabat and wing backs Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui.
It will however be mightily concerned to have lost center back Nayef Aguerd, who limped off in tears in the second half, having just made the World Cup after ankle surgery kept him out for most of the season at his new English club West Ham United.
Alalrbiya News