FIFA World Cup: Morocco beats Portugal, becomes 1st African team to reach semifinals – National | 24CA News
Africa lastly has a workforce within the World Cup semifinals, and so does the Arab world.
Morocco delivered a seminal second within the almost 100-year historical past of soccer’s largest match, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal workforce 1-0 Saturday in one other surprising consequence within the first World Cup staged within the Middle East.
While a tearful Ronaldo headed proper down the tunnel– and possibly into worldwide retirement–after the ultimate whistle, Morocco’s gamers tossed their coach within the air and waved their nation’s flag as they linked arms in entrance of celebrating followers.
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“Pinch me, I’m dreaming,” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stated. “Morocco is ready to face anyone in the world. We have changed the mentality of the generation coming after us. They’ll know Moroccan players can create miracles.”
Youssef En-Nesyri scored the profitable purpose within the forty second minute to proceed an unbelievable run that has generated an outpouring of delight within the Arab world, inspiring shows in Arab identification from followers in numerous nations.
Africa can also be rejoicing at lastly having a nation advancing to the degrees usually solely reached by European or South American groups. Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all reached the quarterfinals however obtained no additional.
Morocco has damaged via, organising a semifinal match in opposition to both France or England.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo, one in every of soccer’s best gamers however now a fading power, didn’t begin for the second straight sport and got here on instead within the 51st minute. He missed his solely likelihood to equalize in stoppage time.
The five-time world participant of the yr is ready to complete his profession with out capturing the World Cup or ever attending to the ultimate. He walked proper off the sector after the ultimate whistle, solely briefly stopped by two Morocco gamers wishing to shake his hand and a spectator who confronted him close to the doorway to the tunnel, and was crying as he headed to the locker room.
If that is the top for Ronaldo at worldwide degree, he’ll end with 118 targets– a report in males’s soccer– and a European Championship title however not soccer’s largest prize. He solely obtained so far as the semifinals on the World Cup, in 2006.
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“Our players are distressed,” stated Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who shrugged off questions on his personal future and added that he didn’t remorse not beginning Ronaldo. “Cristiano is a great player and he came on when we thought it was necessary. But no, no regrets.”
There’s no motive why this Morocco squad– coached by French-born Walid Regragui and containing 14 gamers born overseas _ can’t go all the way in which to the title. They topped a gaggle that included second-ranked Belgium and fellow semifinalist Croatia and have now taken down two of Europe’s heavyweights in Spain– after a penalty shootout within the spherical of 16– and Portugal within the quarterfinals.
“Why shouldn’t we dream of winning the World Cup?” Regragui stated. “If you don’t dream, you don’t get anywhere. It doesn’t cost you to dream.”
Morocco’s protection has but to concede a purpose by an opposition participant at this yr’s World Cup– the one one it has allowed was an own-goal– and it stifled a Portugal workforce which beat Switzerland 6-1 within the final 16 to thrust itself among the many favorites.
In a sport performed to the backdrop of continuous whistles and jeers by Morocco’s passionate followers, the workforce relied nearly solely on counterattacks and scored from one in every of them.
A cross was swung in from the left and En-Nesyri leapt between Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias to move into the empty internet.
Ronaldo, who can be 41 by the point of the 2026 World Cup within the United States, Mexico and Canada, barely obtained a contact of the ball till stoppage time when he obtained in behind Morocco’s protection off an extended ball ahead. His low shot was saved by Bounou.
“I was afraid he might play,” Regragui stated of Ronaldo, “because I know he can score out of nothing.”
Substitute Walid Cheddira was proven a purple card for Morocco early in stoppage time for amassing a second yellow card in as many minutes.
After Portugal middle again Pepe headed huge from contained in the six-yard field within the sixth minute of added time, Ronaldo fell to his knees in dejection.
While Lionel Messi can be within the semifinals with Argentina, the opposite soccer nice of this technology gained’t be.
Morocco may need to manage with out its two beginning middle backs within the semifinals. Nayef Aguerd missed the sport in opposition to Portugal with a thigh damage and Romain Saiss, Morocco’s captain, was carried off on a stretcher with a suspected left hamstring damage. Another key member of the protection, left again Noussair Mazraoui, was absent due to an sickness whereas Regragui stated proper again Achraf Hakimi has been enjoying with an damage.
Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to attain within the knockout stage in any of the 5 World Cups he has performed. He has scored eight targets within the group stage.
© 2022 The Associated Press
