Wow. Wow. Wow.
They’ve performed it. The Atlas Lions maintain marching on – Morocco are the primary African staff in historical past to succeed in the semi-finals of the World Cup, beating Portugal 1-0.
A variety of the main target heading into Saturday’s quarter-final was on their opponents, and particularly whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo could be recalled to the beginning lineup.
He was not.
Me once I get up to the information that Ronaldo’s on the bench once more for this quarterfinal pic.twitter.com/ASdAFQKS2U
— Jesse Hawken (@jessehawken) December 10, 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo within the altering room to Fernando Santos understanding that the sport is all arrange for him to return off the bench and grow to be a hero pic.twitter.com/2W0T3SsQWr
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) December 10, 2022
Ronaldo on the bench which makes excellent sense given what Ramos did. Should not even be a debate. However it’s given the trendy soccer atmosphere and Ronaldo’s personal antics. Cannot take away what he has performed, however that does not translate into what he can do now.
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) December 10, 2022
Portugal had the lion’s share of possession within the opening exchanges, however Morocco have been wanting harmful on the counter assault. Simply earlier than the half-time break, Youssef En-Nesyri leapt above Ruben Dias and Diogo Costa to go within the opener.
Youssef En-Nesyri received air ✈️ pic.twitter.com/URFvQUseKP
— B/R Soccer (@brfootball) December 10, 2022
Youssef En-Nesyri is the primary Moroccan to attain three World Cup targets 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/S92rQuCMc3
— GOAL (@objective) December 10, 2022
All gone loopy right 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 subsequent jiffy, hitting the crossbar with a half-volley, taking place simply attempting to win a penalty, and being criticised by Nigel de Jong within the ITV studio.
Unsure there’s been many extra dislikable gamers over the previous 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 Energy (@paddypower) December 10, 2022
De Jong getting into two-footed on Bruno Fernandes and his diving there 👀😂
De Jong as a pundit 🤝 De Jong as a participant 🤣
— Biggies Malls 2.0 (@Biggies_MaIIs) December 10, 2022
Fernando Santos determined to throw Ronaldo on simply after the interval, however it could show to be a fruitless effort. Nevertheless, he was not essentially the most negatively impactful substitute – that honour goes to Walid Cheddira, who screwed up a number of Morocco assaults and received himself despatched off.
This Cheddira cameo is essentially the most insane efficiency I’ve seen from a footballer.
— Daniel Austin (@_Dan_Austin) December 10, 2022
Cheddira is absolute ranges
— Alex Stewart (@AFHStewart) December 10, 2022
One of many worst substitute appearances I can bear in mind from Cheddira. #FIFAWorldCup
— Andrew Gaffney (@GaffneyVLC) December 10, 2022
However in the long run, it did not matter – Morocco clung on by way of eight minutes of stoppage time and reached their first semi-final.
Morocco are within the World Cup semifinals and never a single staff has scored on all of them event 😳 pic.twitter.com/s7ibpQN3QH
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 10, 2022
All gone loopy in Casablanca! An extended historic evening in Morocco. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/aoDtzRcE5f
— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) December 10, 2022
Youssef En-Nesyri winner and a Bono clear sheet?
Time to whip out an previous traditional 😉 pic.twitter.com/y1SPlt6P2V
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) December 10, 2022
3 – Yassine Bounou, who made his fiftieth look for Morocco tonight, is the primary African goalkeeper to report three clear sheets in a single version of the World Cup. Heroic. pic.twitter.com/xW3DEN6LAL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
Morocco are solely the third staff from exterior South America and Europe to succeed in a World Cup Semi-Ultimate:
🥇 USA – 1930
🥈 South Korea – 2002
🥉 MOROCCO – 2022Large achievement. 👏 pic.twitter.com/iAHgwgeeCO
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 10, 2022
However is that this the tip of the street for Ronaldo? Was this his final probability to win the World Cup? He left the pitch in floods of tears.
It’s the tip for Cristiano Ronaldo on the World Cup. The Portuguese leaves the pitch in tears on his final look ever within the World Cup. 🚨🇵🇹 #Ronaldo #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/fWLC6YN0Wj
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 10, 2022
0 – Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to attain in all eight of his knockout stage appearances on the World Cup (inc. third place play-off), going 570 minutes with out scoring and taking 27 photographs within the course of. Exit. pic.twitter.com/HyTrpoUad0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
Portugal and Ronaldo are OUT of the World Cup!
One man particularly shall be joyful. 😉 pic.twitter.com/uGEwxauyu6
— 90min (@90min_Football) December 10, 2022
