Favorite of group E with Germany, Spain held its rank unlike the Germans, ousted from the tournament in the first round.

However, La Roja lost first place to Japan, losing 2-1 to 'Samurai Blue' last Thursday.

Victorious in the 2010 edition, but eliminated in the first round and in the eighth during the next two, the Spanish selection will have to pass the Moroccan obstacle to see the quarters (4:00 p.m.).

The Atlas Lions, again qualified in eighth after 36 years of waiting, are one of the sensations of this start to the World Cup.

They finished at the top of group F ahead of the Croatians, finalists in 2018, and thus pushed the Belgians, semi-finalists in Russia, to the exit.

A fan of the Moroccan selection in the stands of the Al-Bayt stadium, December 4, 2022 in Al-Khor, Qatar © JACK GUEZ / AFP

Both teams were in the same group at the 2018 World Cup and the Moroccans held the Spaniards 2-2.

"They have a lot of very good players, and collectively, they are also very strong. We expect a very tough match," warned Spaniard Carlos Soler in an interview with AFP, who will face him Achraf Hakimi. , his teammate at Paris SG.

In the evening (8:00 p.m.), Portugal will face Switzerland in an unprecedented confrontation in the World Cup.

But the two teams met last June in the League of Nations.

In Lisbon, the Portuguese had inflicted a 4-0 on the Swiss, with in particular a double from Cristiano Ronaldo.

But Switzerland won 1-0 in Geneva a week later.

Crowned European champion in 2016, Portugal has not reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup since 2006. Switzerland, subscribed to the eighth in the World Cup for three editions, wants to cross this milestone as it has done during the last Euro, by bringing down the French world champions.

Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese in training, December 4, 2022 in Doha © PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

First player to have scored at least once in five different editions of a World Cup, scoring a penalty against Ghana in the first game, Cristiano Ronaldo has not found his way to the goal since.

His team even lost on the wire in their last group match against South Korea (2-1).

The Swiss themselves beat the Serbs (3-2) after a game with twists and turns.

Tuesday, December 6:

(4:00 p.m. / Education City Stadium): Morocco - Spain

(8:00 p.m./Lusail Stadium): Portugal - Switzerland

© 2022 AFP