FIFA World Cup 2022 : Morocco magic sinks 2010 winners Spain

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FIFA World Cup Moroccan magic sinks 2010 winners Spain

The sequence of upsets in 2022 FIFA World Cup has not stopped yet as Morocco defeated Spain on penalties by 3-0. The result, the score line and the manner all of it was very dramatic. Even the origin for once and the background of some of the players makes the whole scenario worse for those had the Moroccan players.

After Morocco’s win against Spain, Round of 16 of this edition’s World cup has certainly been one story to remember for the ages. A win that might ail the broken hearts of the huge African continent doing so little less at the FIFA World Cup stage. If you don’t know yet the Moroccans are still among the unbeaten sides of the tournament.

After coming out on top of Group g and opponents like Belgium, Croatia and Canada, The Atlas Lions as they call them have defeated Spain to qualify for FIFA World Cup Quarter-finals for the first time in their history. From Spain’s perspective, it was heartbreaking because after completing 1019 passes, maintaining 77% of the possession alongside a passing accuracy of 90%, all they have as an outcome is a loss.

La Roja registered 13 attempts but only one on target with 0 goals and also took three penalties (on shootouts) scoring none. As Aymeric Laporte and Rodri were trying to keep up with quick and promising moves by Moroccan attackers like Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nasyeri and Soufiane Boufal, Spanish attackers like Nico Williams, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Marco Asensio and ALvaro Morata failed to find the back of the net in 120 minutes of play.

Morocco’s defensive line of Romain Saiss, Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd and Achraf Hakimi denied chances after chances for the Spaniards to score. Atlas Lions’ most established and worldwide player Achraf Hakimi was the who scored the final penalty and kicked the country of his birth.

What a story that has come out today from just another juicy Round of 16 World cup fixture. Morocco will find out tonight whom they will face at the last 8 as Portugal square off against Switzerland but their win against Spain is nothing less than a miracle that has also ended a Penalty shootout curse for the ones to take the first kick.

After the 7 penalty shootouts with winners going second, Morocco’s magical belief and performance have put a full stop on that theory. Although, Goalkeeper Yassine Bono will join Ricardo, Danjiel Subasic and Dominik Livakovic as one of the goalkeepers at the World cup to make 3 saves in the same penalty shootout and he is perhaps the first Goalkeeper ever to save the first three attempts in a row.

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