World Cup 2022 

Quarter Final 3- MOR vs POR

Preview 

Morocco and Portugal will battle out for a spot in the semis as the two sides meet each other in Quarter Final 3 of the showpiece event at the Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday. While the Atlas Lions held off Spain before emphatically winning on penalties to reach this stage, Portugal thumped Switzerland 6-1 to progress to the final eight phase. 

Achraf Hakimi added the most delicate finishing touches to Morocco's defensive masterpiece on Tuesday, as his 'Panenka' penalty condemned Spain to a 3-0 shootout defeat and advanced the North African nation to the quarter-finals.

Walid Regragui's side had fought hard to resist the Spanish 'death by a thousand passes' approach, sacrificing the majority of possession to grind out a goalless draw and set up a spectacular finale in which goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved two spot-kicks and joined Hakimi as an eternal icon in Rabat, Marrakech, and beyond.

Becoming only the fourth African side to reach World Cup quarter finals-sent a jam packed Education City Stadium wild, as it was crammed up with Moroccan fans whose vehemence has proved such an important feature of these finals. 

The Atlas Lions' only appearance in the Round of 16 prior to this game came back in 1986, and Regragui’s men have not only broken new ground for their country but also the Arab world. During the process, they outstretched their unbeaten run to five matches in the World Cup and kept an outstanding sixth clean sheet from the last seven innings. 

With the calibre, dedication and sheer commitment of Hakimi, fellow full back Noussair Mazraoui, plus their centre backs and tireless midfield architect Sofyan Amrabat, a Morocco squad drawn partially from the diaspora have developed into one of international football’s toughest defensive units. 

Fighting off members of the European establishment like Croatia and Belgium helped them finish top in Group F earlier in the season, so facing Portugal should be no problem for the quarter-finalists.

Fernando Santos was rewarded for exerting his authority by benching Portugal's famous captain this week, as the Selecao surged past Switzerland and into the final eight of Qatar 2022.

Dropping ageing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo resulted in a considerably more dynamic and proactive assault, and his successor - Benfica prodigy Goncalo Ramos - was clearly up to the challenge of replacing the dethroned king.

After scoring an unstoppable opener, the 21-year-old went on to record a fairytale hat-trick in Portugal's 6-1 triumph, the tournament's first triple - on his very first senior appearance.

If there were any doubts that the future of Portuguese football had here, Milan winger Rafael Leao closed off his team's blitz of the Swiss by blasting in the sixth goal of a performance that made the world sit up and take notice.

Despite a sloppy performance against South Korea when already qualified, Santos had seen his side negotiate safe passage through the World Cup’s first phase as Group H winners, and with three wins and 12 goals to their name already, they may well and truly believe to lift the trophy for the first time ever. 

Match Details

Match- World Cup 2022, QF-2: MOR vs POR 

Date-  10/12/22

Time- 08:30 PM

Venue- Al Thumama Stadium

Key Players

MOR- Yassine Bounou

He was the Atlas Lions' hero in the last 16, saving two penalties in the shoot-out - one of which struck the post, although he looked to have it covered anyhow. But, even outside of penalty shootouts, Bounou is an important player for Morocco as a trustworthy goalie who was nominated earlier this year for Yashin Trophy, which is awarded to the world's finest keeper.

POR- Gancalo Ramos

Will Fernando Santos stick to his guns and bench Ronaldo? He should, based on the team's performance against Switzerland.

Ramos assisted on four goals against the Swiss, and his hat-trick in 74 minutes was more knockout goals than Ronaldo has ever scored in World Cup knockout rounds (none in 531 minutes).

Possible Starting XIs

MOR: Bounou; Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

POR: Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; B. Silva, Carvalho, Otavio; Fernandes, Ramos, Felix

Match Prediction

We say MOR 0-1 POR 

When these two nations last met in the World Cup finals, Morocco won 3-1, but the outcome might be drastically different 36 years later. Even the Atlas Lions' ferocious defensive commitment will not be enough to hold one of the tournament's most explosive sides at bay for 120 minutes, and one of Portugal's budding stars - or perhaps even a wise old head - will find a way to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Suggested Playing XI Real11 Fantasy Cricket