Morocco vs Spain (MOR vs ESP) FIFA World Cup 2022 Highlights:
We deserve respect … Spain have to be afraid of us, says Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi
“We were first in the group, and I think we already deserve a little respect. I think Spain knows it, and they have to be a little afraid of us. They have to be afraid of us, the truth,” Achraf Hakimi has said.
Even as Morocco stunned the football world with their 2-0 win over Belgium, their prized defender Achraf Hakimi, who has played for PSG alongside Leo Messi, ran towards the sidelines to meet his mother, who was wearing the Moroccan flag. She would plant a kiss on his cheeks, and he would kiss her forehead. He would remove his jersey and give her. The heartwarming picture went viral. (READ MORE)
FIFA World Cup: For Morocco, Hakim has the cure
After the Canada game, Hakim Ziyech jumped over the advertisement board onto the edge of the fence where a large section of Moroccan fans were chanting his name.
He clambered onto the slim concrete fence, flung his shirt at a young fan, stretched his arms, and drew a heart with his hand. The delirious fans could have swarmed him but for the panicked guards, shouting at them. Ziyech, though, would hold his pose for a minute, for them to twist around and capture selfies. Some of the fans wanted to kiss him, some hug him, but he would soon climb down the fence to the relief of the guards. He then disappeared into the tunnel, brought some more of his shirts and hurled them into the stands. He basked in the glow of love from the stands. (READ MORE)
Morocco dumped Spain out of the World Cup in a last-16 penalty shootout on Tuesday with Spanish-born Achraf Hakimi scoring the decisive spot-kick after Spain squandered all three of their attempts, following a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.
Hakimi, a product of the Real Madrid youth system, calmly slotted his penalty past Unai Simon in Spain’s goal to seal Morocco’s 3-0 win in the shootout. [Read more]
Spain attempted 1050 passes. Morocco 331.
Spain had 63% possession. Morocco 20% (rest of 17% in contest).
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 is already has a viral moment this world cup when he kissed his mother after the 2-0 win over Belgium. She was waiting for him in the sidelines, with a Moroccan flag around her. She would plant a kiss on his cheeks, and he would kiss her forehead. He would remove his jersey and give her. The heartwarming picture went viral.
Read more: Achraf Hakimi’s penalty sinks Spain as Morocco go through to quarter-finals of World Cup
The Marrakesh Express keeps running in all its might at the 2022 World Cup. What a win. WHAT A WIN!
Against one of the favorites, the riches of Spain. Luis Enrique's words of players prepping for a penalty shootout with 1000 attempts come to mind. "Over a year ago, in many national camps we told players, 'You have homework ahead of the World Cup. You must take at least 1,000 penalties with the club'. You can't just train them when they're with the national team'," he had told reporters on Monday.
But just as the penalty shootout reached its climax, you had to think if the Spanish penalty takers did manage to do the aforementioned. Their Morocco counterparts surely did.
And he scores! Morocco have knocked Spain out of the World Cup!
MOR 3-0 ESP
And it is a third straight miss for Spain. Bounou makes the save to his left. Morocco are on the brink!
MOR 2-0 ESP
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And Simon makes the stop! A first miss from Morocco.
MOR 2-0 ESP
And it is saved down the right by Bounou! Morocco lead after two kicks!
MOR 2-0 ESP
And the Chelsea winger converts, burries it in the middle.
MOR 2-0 ESP
And he hits the post! Morocco lead after the first kick of both teams.
MOR 1-0 ESP
Sabiri sets up to take the first kick. A short run up. AND HE SCORES.
MOR 1-0 ESP
Sarabia is open to the right of the Morocco goal but his first time volley is inches away from making it 1-0. And that will do it as the referee blows his whistle.
No. No. No. No. That was the answer to the question for if there were any goals in each of the halves of the regulation time and extra time in this one. Penalties it is. For the second night in a row. Get those airbags ready.
MOR 0-0 ESP
Three more minutes of added time at the end of the extra time to try and put this to rest.
MOR 0-0 ESP
Azzedine Ounahi goes off for Badr Benoun, who makes his first appearance at this World Cup.
MOR 0-0 ESP
With penalties becoming a more likely reality, Sarabia replaces Williams, who had been a live wire ever since he came on as a sub in the second half.
MOR 0-0 ESP
Morocco lose the ball with numbers spread out in the Spain half and on the counter Nico Williams sets up Alvaro Morata, who blasts towards the left channel but his final through pass to Balde in the box is too heavy and runs out for a goal kick.
MOR 0-0 ESP