FIFA World Cup: Morocco need to be wary of Portugal’s rotations
When Portugal are trying to set up an attack, their no-nonsense midfielder William Carvalho usually drops in between the two central defenders to form a back 3, whilst the two full-backs push higher up the pitch. Morocco are unlikely to press high, although may do so from goal kicks or throw-ins in the 1st third.
The increased number of technically sound players has allowed Portugal to be very reliable in possession, and difficult to mark due to the frequent rotations. During these rotations, a player in the line of the midfield four will play the ball forward and make a penetrative run, to stretch the opposition team vertically, while either Bruno Fernandes or Joao Felix are comfortable with dropping in deeper into the midfield to thwart any potential press from the opposition. (READ MORE)
Morocco extended their dream run at the World Cup on Saturday as they out-thought and out-fought Portugal in a 1-0 win to become the first ever African country to reach the semi-finals thanks to a towering headed goal from Youssef En-Nesyri.
In the 42nd minute En-Nesyri leapt above the Portugal defenders to meet a Yahya Attiat-Allah cross, getting just enough of his head to the ball to tip it past goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who misread its flight and crashed into his own defender. [Read more]
Portugal's defeat meant the end of the line for Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup. Starting on the bench, Ronaldo came on as a sub early in the second half, but couldn't help his side's case against Morocco. Post match, the number seven was seen leaving the pitch in tears.
THAT IS AS CLOSE AS PORTUGAL HAVE COME TO SCORING ON THE NIGHT!
Leao crosses in from the left, Pepe leaps in the air but heads it wide from inside the six yard box. Morocco survive.
MAR 1-0 POR
Walid Cheddira grabs a second yellow after going in for the ball but catching the Portugal player instead. Off he goes and Morocco will have to continue with 10 men.
MAR 1-0 POR
Bounou makes a save off a first time Ronaldo shot following a through ball from the inward right channel. Oh, the hearbeats of the Morocco fans would've been at an all time high there. But their number one remains unbeaten against the opposition at this World Cup.
Meanwhile eight minutes of added time at the end of this half.
MAR 1-0 POR
Vítor Machado Ferreira goes into the ref's book as Portugal lose composure again towards the end.
MAR 1-0 POR
Bounou flings himself up to the top-right of his goal to palm away a thunderous strike from Joao Felix, who receives the ball from Ronaldo's layoff on the edge of the box! What a save! Could that make all the difference in a few minutes time?
MAR 1-0 POR
OKAY!
Portugal win a free kick in the central channel 30 yards out of goal. But Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't step up to take it. Bruno Fernades it is. He tries to slip it in the path of Joao Felix but is intercepted by the Morocco markings.
MAR 1-0 POR
Well, looks like Ziyech won't continue after all. Both the wingers, Boufal and Ziyech make way for Aboukhlal and Jabrane come on.
Portugal in the due time have also got Ricardo Horta in for Diogo Dalot.
MAR 1-0 POR
Yet another crucial Morocco player goes down. This however, doesn't look as serious for Hakim Ziyech and the team with the lead. Goes out to receive treatment as Morocco continue to defend deep in their own half with 10 men.
MAR 1-0 POR
Joao Cancelo on the left flank, turns in sweetly and wins another corner for Portugal in quick succession. Another 15 minutes plus added time and Portugal are ensuring they turn up the heat for Morocco.
MAR 1-0 POR
After Silva can't make sufficient contact on a Fernandes free-kick from the left touchline, Morocco temporarily get the ball away. However, the white shirts of Portugal soon enough descend again; penning back the entire Moroccan XI inside their defensive third.
MAR 1-0 POR
Achraf Dari is booked for lunging recklessly into a tackle on Leao on the right flank.
MAR 1-0 POR
Vitinha comes on for Otavio on the left side of the midfield. Gancalo Ramos makes way for Rafael Leao.
MAR 1-0 POR
Desperation is in the air as Portugal look for an equaliser. Bruno Fernandes chips the ball into the Morocco box from the right, an outside the boot pass. However, none of the his teammates is able to get their head onto it as Bounou grabs it.
MAR 1-0 POR
Having been fed by Silva on the edge of the box, Fernandes lets fly with a powerful strike, which rises narrowly over the crossbar! So close, but what a chance missed in the context of this game!
MAR 1-0 POR
Youssef En-Nesyri, to a loud reception fromt the largely Morocco biased crowd at the Al Thumama, is replaced by Badr Benoun.
MAR 1-0 POR
Left in space near the penalty spot, Ramos heads Otavio's cross wide of the target! It was a presentable chance, of which he has been starved so far today.
MAR 1-0 POR
Namit Kumar: Cristiano Ronaldo is on. Joao Cancelo is on. The ball is being moved out wide, and crosses are being lumped in.
Testament to the effectiveness of Morocco’s game plan that Portugal have found virtually no space in between the lines. Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix, barring a few odd chances, have barely been found today.
The more bodies they commit going forward, the more space for Morocco to break into as well. Nervy last 30 coming.
MAR 1-0 POR
The Morocco captain Romain Saiss goes down and is receiving medical attention.
Two minutes later, the stretcher is in and it is clear, Saiss won't be able to continue. Achraf Dari comes on for him. Concerning injury this for Morocco.
MAR 1-0 POR
A Diogo Dalot cross from the right ends up in the hands of Bono, who anticipates Goncalo Ramos’s near post run.
MAR 1-0 POR
Just as Hakimi goes down following a Pepe challenge, the visuals shift to Cristiano Ronaldo, who can be seen warming up on the sidelines alongside the other Portuguese subs. His replacement in the XI, Goncalo Ramos hasn't been able to find the space he was afforded against Switzerland. Anytime now?
MAR 1-0 POR
Morocco get us underway for the second half. No changes introduced by both the teams so far.
MAR 1-0 POR
Namit Kumar: This half-time result is not entirely undeserved. Morocco have a clear cut game plan which is seeing purposeful success. The Atlas Lions have closed down the passing lanes in midfield, staying tight and narrow, and are imploring Portugal to either create from long balls or width.
There’s incision when they break too, Ziyech is having a great game, breaking down Portugal’s press with ease and leading the transition. The goal came from just that, as him and Ounahi worked the ball well and played it wide to Attiyat Allah, whose looping cross was met by En-Nessyri.
It’s patient, effective, incisive play. Portugal have had no answers for it so far.
MAR 1-0 POR
The referee blows his whistle to signal the end of the first half as the Portuguese players swarm around him, most likely to talk about the denied penalty call a minute ago inside the Morocco box after Bruno Fernandes. Goodness me, this is boiling into a second half affair to watch out for as Morocco go into the halftime with a lead.
MAR 1-0 POR
Two minutes of added time shown on the fourth official's board and Portugal bombard numbers forward to get something back from this half.
MAR 1-0 POR
Youssef En-Nesyri scores off a cross and Morocco lead in the quarter final!
Morocco have had less of the ball as expected but here they are. Cross from the left by Yahya Attiat-Allah and En-Nesyri heads it perfectly to beat Diogo Costa. And Morocco lead. On the edge of the first half!
MAR 1-0 POR
Goncalo Ramos takes a knock on his knees and goes down in the midfield. The ref haults the play. Meanwhile a section of Portugal fans can be seen chanting on the broadcast. We know what happens if Ramos is injured in this game. We know who comes on.
MAR 0-0 POR
Morocco continue to take more chances in the final third, as Boufal scuds a low shot towards the centre of Costa's goal from outside the area. The goalkeeper is more than equal to it, though, and gathers the ball low down.
MAR 0-0 POR
Morocco's first shot on target in the match. Sofiane Boufal cuts in from the left and unleashes a right footed curling shot from outside the box. Good looking but straight into the grasp of Diogo Costa.
MAR 0-0 POR
Joao Felix has a go from the edge of the Morocco box. His right footed half volley catches a deflection off a Portuguese defender's body and is on the way into the Morocco goal before Yassine Bounoue gets a hand to it. 'Phew', said every single Morocco fan inside the venue.
MAR 0-0 POR
Quite literally. Looking to contest a high ball that looked very much of the Morocco goalkeeper, Bruno Fernandes leaps high, collides with Bounou, leaving the latter flat on the ground on his back. Referee Facundo Tello blows his whistle for a Morocco free kick. The duo have a quick chat about it before getting back up and taking their positions.
First quarter observations, Morocco have succeded in frustrating Portugal.
MAR 0-0 POR
Ramos, perhaps growing a little frustrated at a lack of service so far, fouls Boufal deep inside the Morocco half and concedes an unnecessary free-kick.
MAR 0-0 POR
As expected, Morocco don't mind staying off possession. Portugal have kept more of the ball and used it to create more ideas so far in this game.
MOR 0-0 POR
After Amrabat brings down Otavio 30 yards out from goal, Neves then meets the cross from Fernandes' free-kick with a header before the ball breaks loose to Guerreiro. The full-back lets fly with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, but sees it blocked and Morocco utimately bundle the ball away.
MOR 0-0 POR
Joao Felix almost escapes on the left-hand side of the area, but his loose touch when trying to trap a sweeping crossfield ball allows Hakimi to intervene.
10 minutes into the game and both the teams have had opportunities to take a lead in this one.
MOR 0-0 POR
From Ziyech's outswinging corner, En-Nesyri spurns a golden chance to open the scoring; mistiming a free header from only a few yards out and sending the ball over the crossbar. What a trendsetter that goal would've been!
MOR 0-0 POR
The wide channel influence of Morocco coming into play once again on the counter as Attiya-Allah escapes down the inside left and tries to drill in a cross. Diogo Dalot gets back in time to block it.
MOR 0-0 POR
A set piece opening on the right for Portugal. Whipped into the box, the ball finds Joao Felix, who heads it towards the goal but straight at Bounou. The Moroccon keeper remains unbeaten against opposition players at this World Cup.
MOR 0-0 POR
Goncalo Ramos has the eyes of the world on him after that hattrick against Switzerland in the Round of 16. The 21-year-old enters the final third in early minutes but no serious threat for Morocco.
MOR 0-0 POR
Portugal get us underway at the Al Thumama.
The 2016 European champions dressed in their alternate light colors while Morocco don their primary kit, red shirt and green shorts.
MOR 0-0 POR
Since the World Cup was expanded to 32 teams, Portugal's best outing in the competition came in 2006, when they reached the semifinals in Germany. Morocco on the other hand, are living a bigger dream, to become the first ever African nation to make it to the World Cup semifinals. Two sets of dreams at stake as the two sets of players make way into the Al Thumama Stadium for the national anthems.
Since the World Cup was expanded to 32 teams, Portugal's best outing in the competition came in 2006, when they reached the semifinals in Germany. Morocco on the other hand, are living a bigger dream, to become the first ever African nation to make it to the World Cup semifinals. Two sets of dreams at stake as the two sets of players make way into the Al Thumama Stadium for the national anthems.
MOR 0-0 POR
Against Switzerland, Goncalo Ramos became the first player to score a World Cup knockouts hattrick since 1990. How many do you think he'll get tonight?
Achraf Hakimi walked towards the ball, took a deep breath out, took a measured run, and went for the middle. Boom. Goal. Game over. And he does a waddle in celebration with a big smile as he awaited his team-mates to mob him. A day before, he had said Spain should be afraid of them as they were group leaders. His coach had said they don’t care what Spanish media has to say about them; they are confident. In the end Hakimi and his men walked the talk.
He already has a viral moment at this World Cup when he kissed his mother after the 2-0 win over Belgium. She was waiting for him on the sidelines, with a Moroccan flag around her. She would plant a kiss on his cheeks, and he would kiss her forehead. He would then remove his jersey and give it to her. The heartwarming picture did rounds on the social media. [Read more]
"Pressure is for cookers. I am too old to worry about that" Portuguese coach 'Engineer' Santos, who puts tactics over technique, had once said.
Read more: Fernando Santos, the Portuguese coach who remains unfazed by the drama around Cristiano Ronaldo and feels no pressure when benching him
Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Romain Saiss, Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah, Azzedine Ounahi, Hakim Ziyech, Soufiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri, Jawad Yamiq, Yahya Attiat-Allah
Portugal: Diogo Costa, Diogo Dalot, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Raphael Guerreiro, Bruno Fernandes, Otavio, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos, Ruben Neves
With the team prospering and winning without CR7, it could signal a generational shift in Portuguese football.
Read more: Replacing the benched Ronaldo, Goncalo Ramos nets a hat-trick against Switzerland, to take Portugal into quarterfinals