Wow. Wow. Wow.
They’ve done it. The Atlas Lions keep marching on – Morocco are the first African team in history to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, beating Portugal 1-0.
A lot of the focus heading into Saturday’s quarter-final was on their opponents, and in particular whether Cristiano Ronaldo would be recalled to the starting lineup.
He was not.
Me when I wake up to the news that Ronaldo’s on the bench again for this quarterfinal pic.twitter.com/ASdAFQKS2U
— Jesse Hawken (@jessehawken) December 10, 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo in the changing room to Fernando Santos knowing that the game is all set up for him to come off the bench and become a hero pic.twitter.com/2W0T3SsQWr
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) December 10, 2022
Ronaldo on the bench which makes perfect sense given what Ramos did. Shouldn’t even be a debate. But it is given the modern football environment and Ronaldo’s own antics. Can’t take away what he has done, but that doesn’t translate into what he can do now.
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) December 10, 2022
Portugal had the lion’s share of possession in the opening exchanges, but Morocco were looking dangerous on the counter attack. Just before the half-time break, Youssef En-Nesyri leapt above Ruben Dias and Diogo Costa to head in the opener.
Youssef En-Nesyri got air ✈️ pic.twitter.com/URFvQUseKP
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 10, 2022
Youssef En-Nesyri is the first Moroccan to score three World Cup goals 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/S92rQuCMc3
— GOAL (@goal) December 10, 2022
All gone crazy here! Morocco with the lead.
Youssef En-Nesyri ⚽ #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/iEG7JbtsvN
— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) December 10, 2022
Bruno Fernandes was then the protagonist of the next few minutes, hitting the crossbar with a half-volley, going down easily trying to win a penalty, and being criticised by Nigel de Jong in the ITV studio.
Not sure there’s been many more dislikable players over the past couple of years than Bruno Fernandes
— Connor Armstrong (@ConnorArmstrong) December 10, 2022
The Morocco defender breathes on Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes: pic.twitter.com/efs1yk6rah
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 10, 2022
De Jong going in two-footed on Bruno Fernandes and his diving there 👀😂
De Jong as a pundit 🤝 De Jong as a player 🤣
— Biggies Malls 2.0 (@Biggies_MaIIs) December 10, 2022
Fernando Santos decided to throw Ronaldo on just after the interval, but it would prove to be a fruitless effort. However, he was not the most negatively impactful substitute – that honour goes to Walid Cheddira, who screwed up several Morocco attacks and got himself sent off.
This Cheddira cameo is the most insane performance I’ve seen from a footballer.
— Daniel Austin (@_Dan_Austin) December 10, 2022
Cheddira is absolute levels
— Alex Stewart (@AFHStewart) December 10, 2022
One of the worst substitute appearances I can remember from Cheddira. #FIFAWorldCup
— Andrew Gaffney (@GaffneyVLC) December 10, 2022
But in the end, it didn’t matter – Morocco clung on through eight minutes of stoppage time and reached their first semi-final.
Morocco are in the World Cup semifinals and not a single team has scored on them all tournament 😳 pic.twitter.com/s7ibpQN3QH
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 10, 2022
All gone crazy in Casablanca! A long historic night in Morocco. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/aoDtzRcE5f
— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) December 10, 2022
Youssef En-Nesyri winner and a Bono clean sheet?
Time to whip out an old classic 😉 pic.twitter.com/y1SPlt6P2V
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) December 10, 2022
3 – Yassine Bounou, who made his 50th appearance for Morocco tonight, is the first African goalkeeper to record three clean sheets in a single edition of the World Cup. Heroic. pic.twitter.com/xW3DEN6LAL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
Morocco are only the 3rd team from outside South America and Europe to reach a World Cup Semi-Final:
🥇 USA – 1930
🥈 South Korea – 2002
🥉 MOROCCO – 2022Huge achievement. 👏 pic.twitter.com/iAHgwgeeCO
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 10, 2022
But is this the end of the road for Ronaldo? Was this his last chance to win the World Cup? He left the pitch in floods of tears.
It’s the end for Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup. The Portuguese leaves the pitch in tears on his last appearance ever in the World Cup. 🚨🇵🇹 #Ronaldo #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/fWLC6YN0Wj
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 10, 2022
0 – Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score in all eight of his knockout stage appearances at the World Cup (inc. third place play-off), going 570 minutes without scoring and taking 27 shots in the process. Exit. pic.twitter.com/HyTrpoUad0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
Portugal and Ronaldo are OUT of the World Cup!
One man in particular will be happy. 😉 pic.twitter.com/uGEwxauyu6
— 90min (@90min_Football) December 10, 2022
Credit: 90min.com
