On Saturday 10 December 2022, the second of two days of quarter-final matches at this year’s FIFA World Cup took place in Qatar.
The third quarter-final took place at the Al Thumama Stadium between Portugal (with Christian Ronaldo again on the substitutes bench, and who defeated Switzerland 6-1 in their last-16 match) and Morocco (who stunned Spain by beating them on penalties in their last-16 match).
There had been a problem before the natch with hundreds of fans still awaiting entry, although it was unclear if they had tickets, or not. No African team had ever reached the World Cup semi-finals, so this would be a first for Morocco if they attained that feat. Pepe captained Portugal in place of Ronaldo.
With Morocco in red jerseys and green shorts, and Portugal in an all-white strip, the match started with Portugal’s João Félix getting the first shot of the game, with Bono making an easy save in goal for Morocco. But the North Africans quickly countered and forced a counter-attack, earning the first corner of the game but from which a header was well wide. From a free kick, Portugal’s Guerreiro fired a strong volley into the crowded Moroccan box, but it ricoched out, easing the pressure for Morocco. On 17 minutes, Morocco’s Ziyech’s shot was wide following good work up the centre and out wide on the right flank. Ziyech was causing problems out the right and had another cross intercepted by Diogo Costa, Portugal’s goalkeeper. By now, Morocco had established themselves in the game. On 25 minutes, Ziyech’s free kick found En-Nesyri whose powerful header flew just over the bar. 5 minutes later, João Félix had a snap shot turned for a corner after the ball dropped for him after a promising move by Portugal. Then Morocco switched play to their left flanks; a cut-back found Amallah whose strong shot was too high; a moment later, Diogo Costa was forced into a low save. A long ball was then just too strong for Amallah to run onto. Up the other end and João Félix saw another half-chance go over the bar. On 41 minutes, Morocco were the first to strike; Attiat-Allah put a high cross in from the left, Diogo Costa came out for it and missed, with Amallah’s header powered into the back of an empty net. 1-0 to Morocco. Just 2 minutes later, Fernandes hit the crossbar from an ambitious cross-cum-shot as Portugal attacked. Portugal appealed for a pebslty but the referee was not fooled. Morocco counter-attacked down the left but the shot was blasted wide. 2 minutes of added time. HT 1-0 to Morocco, with the Portuguese players clearly unhappy. Interestingly, Portugal’s hat-trick hero in their last-16 match, Gonçalo Ramos, had hardly had a look-in so far, partly due to Morocco’s well-organised defence. Will Christiano Ronaldo come off the bench and create some magic? No substitutions from either side at half-time. Just 3 minutes after the restart, Morocvo coukd have had a second only for Diogo Costa to make a crucial block. On 50 minutes, Portugal made two substitutions, with Cancelo and Christiano Ronaldo coming on for Neves and Guerreiro). With his 196th cap for his country, Ronaldo thus became the joint most-capped player in history. Portugal had increased the tempo and worked a good move down the right, but Dalot’s cross was well taken by Bono. Morocco had a break but the end touch was poor with the shot too high. On 56 minutes, Saïss was stretchered off and replaced by Dari in Morocco’s first change. Morocco were now content to sit back, let Portugal cone at them and break on counter-attacks. On 63 minutes, Bruno Fernandes let rip a powerful shot but it was off target. Morocco then made two more substitutions, with En-Nesyri (the goalscorer) and Amallah making way for Benoun and Cheddira. Portugal were still pressing but they could not find s way past Morocco’s defence. Portugal made 2 more substitutions, with Otavio and Gonçalo Ramo s being replaced by Rafael Leao and Vitinha. Morocvo had changed to a back-five formation, defending against the constant Portuguese pressure. In goal, Bono was immense. Morocco had a counter-attack up the right flank, with the Portuguese defence scrambling back in time to nullify the threat. 15 minutes left: could Morocco hang on for a historic win? With 10 minutes left, Morocco made their 4th and 5th substitutions. After a moment of poor defending, Christisno Ronaldo laid the ball back for João Félix to curl a shot towards the top left corner of the net, only for Bono to pull off an incredible flying save. Fernandes took a free kick from a threatening position, but shot it straight at Morocco’s wall. 5 minutes of normal time remaining… Portugal get a corner but Morocco’s defence head it clear. 8 minutes of added time. End-to-end football, with Cristiano Ronaldo having a shot saved by Bono. On 92 minutes, Morocco substitute Cheddira was sent off for a second yellow card in 2 minutes. Morocco a goal up, Portugal a man up. On 95 minutes, Morocco sent a long ball upfield but Diogo Costa came out of his goal to stop the threat. But the ball went straight ip the other end for Pepe to miss a golden opportunity to level. FT 1-0 to Morocco who become the first African nation to reach a World Cup Semi-Final (they also defeated Belgium and Spain in this tournament).
The fourth quarter-final was played at the Al Bayt Stadium with two previous winners up against each other: England (winners back in 1966 and finalists in EURO2020 played last year, who defeated Senegal in their last-16 game) up against France (the holders, having won in Russia in 2016, and who defeated Poland in the last-16). This match would be the first time the two sides have met in a knockout game, and the first time at a World Cup since 1982, with strikers Kylian Mbappe (France) and Harry Kane (England) both eyeing and competing for the ultimate prize. So far in the tournament, both teams were scoring freely: England have scored 12 goals (with 8 different goalscorers), with France scoring 9.
With France in blue jerseys, white shorts and red socks, and Englsnd in white jerseys and socks, with blue shorts, the match started with Mbappe showing his speed down the left, before both Kane and Foden had shots blocked at the other end. Giroud and Mbappe then combined for France, but the game was being played mainly in the centre half of the pitch. On 10 minutes, Dembélé crossed in for Giroud who did well to connect with the ball, but his low header was well saved by Pickford. Griezmann and Rice were controlling the midfield for France and England respectively. On 16 minutes, Tchouaméni let fly with a rocket of a shot from well outside the box, laid on by Griezmann, which flew past Pickford into the bottom left of the goal. 1-0 to France. 3 minutes later, England were awarded a free kick just outside the French box; Shaw found a gap in the wall but Lloris saved well. A couple of minutes later, Kane turned a defender but Lloris dashed out to nullify the threat with his elbow saving France’s blushes. Kane got the ball in the box again and appealed for a penalty which VAR checked but the referee did not give. Kane had another attempt on 28 minutes, with Lloris again saving, high up in the top right corner. From the ensuing corner, the ball fell in the 6-yard box but was cleared by last-gasp defending. Since the goal, almost all the pressure was coming from England. Bellingham lost the ball in midfield to Mbappe, but recovered a minute later when covering back on his own goal line and winning the ball back. On 38 minutes, Mbappe got a shot on, but it sailed over the bar. Griezmann was the first player to receive a yellow card, on 43 minutes, for a foul on Kyle Walker who was half-way up the pitch on a mazy run. 4 minutes added time announced. HT 1-0 to France. No substitutions by either side at half time. Very soon after the start, Dembélé received a yellow card for a foul on Bellingham who blasted a shot goalwards only for Lloris to tip the ball over. From the resulting corner, Maguire got his head to the ball, but Lloris recovered well. Henderson then received a yellow card for a foul on Mbappe. On 51 minutes, England worked the ball down the right and Saka was fouled in the French box. Penalty! Harry Kane against Hugo Lloris, teammates at Tottenham Hotspur. Kane blasts the ball onto the back of the net, therefore drawing with Rooney as all-time highest goalscorer for England with 53 goals each. 1-1! Almost immediately, Rabiot ran onto a through ball up the middle but was denied by Pickford at full stretch. The game opened up with chances at both ends. Saka ran through but his shot was easily saved by Lloris. Kane too, but there was no power on the shot. On 69 minutes, Henderson’s free kick was headed on by Maguire but the ball hit the outside of the post. 2 minutes later, Shaw’s cross from the left was met by Saka but his shot was wide. The French had some attacks with Giroud central to everything, eliciting a super save from Pickford on 76 minutes. But he got the ball past the English goalkeeper one minute later when heading on a cross from Griezmann. England then made 2 substitutions with Henderson and Sterling coming on for Saka and Henderson. On 81 minutes, England was awarded a second penalty when Mount was bundled over in the box by Hernandez who received a yellow card. Kane stepped up but he boasted the ball over the bar. Still 2-1 to France with 6 minutes of normal time remaining. England took off Foden with Rashford replacing him. Tensions were rising ; Maguire received a yellow card for a tackle on Griezmann. 8 minutes of added time announced. On 99 minutes, England were awarded a free kick just outside the French box. Rashford took it, bent it around the wall but it hit the top of the netting. Last chance… FT 2-1 for France.
Croatia play Argentina in the first semi-final on Tuesday 13 December, with France playing Morocco in the other semi-final the following day, Wednesday 14 December.
