The Spanish national team entered the duel in the status of its favorite. For Luis Enrique’s wards, this was responsible, he obliged them. Forced, first of all, to dominate and play along. In principle, they fought according to their scenario, as soon as the initial whistle blew. But very soon it became clear that the players of the Moroccan team were not going to dance exclusively to the tune of the Europeans. They had their own game plan. It consisted of a sharp and rapid counterattack in response to total, in fact, pressure from rivals.
And the African team was very successful in realizing their ideas. At least until the break, that’s for sure. Ziyech, Bufal and company rushed forward time after time to threaten Simon’s holdings there. The Spanish goalkeeper shouldn’t have been bored. In the 33rd minute Mazraoui disturbed him a lot and three minutes before the end of the first half Agerd headed dangerously high.
But in the opposite goal, even if the ball stayed more often, it was more difficult with the moments there. In general, the Spanish team did not have them before the break. There have only been attempts to create them. We are talking, let’s say, of the impact on Asensio’s performance in the 27th minute. Potentially, at the time, the threat was good, but in fact it all happened at random.
In the second half, nothing changed in the game: the Europeans attacked again with great forces, the Africans responded with defensive actions and tried to counterattack. The game looked good, as there was plenty of passion and local battles for superiority. But such a course of the meeting disappointed both the Fury Roja fans and the coaching staff of the Spaniards, led by Luis Enrique. It was not for nothing that he launched Morata and Carlos Soler into the game, as well as Williams, at half time. The bet was solely on increasing pressure. But…
Yes, the move with new performers paid off: Spain retained its dominance, but without a productive end, as before. It could have been otherwise when Morata, with his incredible luck and bad luck, was at the forefront of the team’s attacks. It was passed on from the striker to the whole team.
Nothing sensible happened in the fight and in the two overtimes. However, just before the end of extra time, Sarabia, who had just come on as a substitute, was forced to put in a killer shot, but passed from a good position.
In the end, it was all decided by post-match kicks from 11 meters. In them, the players of the Spanish national team shocked more than in the game. Missed penalties Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Busquets. The Moroccans were accurate three times from the point. And of course, the two saves performed by Bunu are worth noting. Without them the Spaniards would not have shown all their bad luck. Morocco to the quarterfinals!
World Cup 2022. 1/8 finals
Morocco – Spain – 0:0, pen. 3-0
Penalty: 1:0 – Sabiri, 1:0 – Sarabia (stop), 2:0 – Ziyech, 2:0 – Carlos Soler (goalkeeper), 2:0 – Banun (goalkeeper), 2:0 – Busquets (goalkeeper), 3 :0 – Hakimi.
Saiss, 90 – Laporte, 77
Morocco: Bunu – Hakimi, Saiss, Agerd (El-Yamik, 84), Mazrawi (Attiat-Allal, 82) – Unakhi (Banun, 120), Amrabat, Amalla (Sheddira, 82) – Ziyesh, En-Nesiri (Sabiri, 82) , Buffalo (Ez Abde, 66).
Spain: Simon – Llorente, Rodri, Laporte, Alba (Balde, 98) – Gavi (Carlos Soler, 63), Busquets, Pedri – F. Torres (Williams, 75; Sarabia, 118), Asensio (Morata, 63), Olmo (Fati , 98).
Stage: City of Education (Doha)
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (Argentina)
MOROCCO – SPAIN. TRANSMISSION OF THE TEXT OF THE MATCH
