(Doha) Morocco has once again asserted its hermeticism to push Portugal out of the 2022 World Cup (1-0) and thus enter the history of the World Cup through the front door by becoming the first team African to qualify for the semi-finals.
After Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana, the fourth try will therefore have been the good and new destroyer of European nations, which in Qatar held off Croatia, Belgium, Spain and now Seleçao, will have the opportunity on Wednesday to continue his work against France or England.
PHOTO MOLLY DARLINGTON, REUTERS
Moroccan coach Walid Regragui carried by his players at the end of the match.
The hero of the day of the Atlas Lions, who ended up on the ropes and exhausted, is called En-Nesyri. Already a scorer in Russia and even in Qatar, the great center-forward took advantage just before the break of an approximate exit from Diogo Costa to perfectly prick his head (42) and unlock a very tactical meeting until then.
Aware of the defensive discipline of the Moroccans, Portugal had started by trying to press high to quickly recover the ball and then go down to try to get their opponent out before stinging them with the precision of Fernandes’ long game.
Ronaldo in tears
PHOTO NELSON ALMEIDA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the field.
A plan that could have quickly worked if Felix had been sharper (5). But Bounou, who then revved up (74, 83) at the height of the Portuguese push in the second half, martyred his vis-à-vis.
In difficulty, Fernando Santos had no choice but to quickly bring in (51) Ronaldo, while Ramos, author of a hat-trick against Switzerland, was transparent this time.
The 196e selection of CR7, new co-holder of the number of international selections, has allowed Portugal to assert its hold on the game, but not to equalize despite a duel of the star with Bounou (90).
The Portuguese can only blame themselves, because, against Moroccans who lost Saïss (57) and logically suffered after all the efforts made so far, they had several situations to come back to the score . But when they did not come across an intractable goalkeeper, Fernandes, who had already touched the bar just after the opener (43), saw the frame slip away (64).
The exclusion of Cheddira (90 + 3) however did not deviate from its course Morocco, which has conceded only one goal since the start of the World Cup. Sometimes on the verge of breaking, he even managed the feat of getting a fourth shutout in five games.
Out in tears after this tragic scenario for Portugal, Ronaldo, more and more challenged within the Seleçao, will now have the opportunity to specify what continuation he intends to give to his career at 37 years old.