On December 6, local time, the 1/8 finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup continued. The match between the Morocco team and the Spanish team started at the Education City Stadium.
In this game, the two teams failed to score in regular time and overtime, and the two sides entered a penalty shootout.
In the penalty shootout, the Moroccan team relied on goalkeeper Bunu's miraculous performance to save Spanish players' penalty shots twice, helping the Moroccan team eliminate the Spanish team and break into the top 8 of the World Cup for the first time in history.
The picture shows the Spanish midfielder Busquets (blue) in the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
(Qatar World Cup) Morocco advances to the quarterfinals, the biggest "dark horse" is "stamped and certified"
China News Agency, Beijing, December 7th. In the early morning of the 7th Beijing time, the only unpopular event in the 1/8 finals of the Qatar World Cup was the biggest "dark horse" of this cup and "stamped and certified"-the Moroccan team broke the European and American ball The monopoly of the team has become the only Asian-African seed in the top 8.
In the contest with Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion and the favorite to win the cup, Morocco drew 0:0 in regular time and extra time, and finally won 3:0 in a penalty shootout. While the team advanced to the top 8 of the World Cup for the first time, it also tied the best record of the African team in the World Cup and became the biggest "dark horse" in this cup.
Before this cup, the Moroccan team was not only not regarded as a "dark horse", but also "black material" was constantly shaken out.
Morocco star Ziyech, who played for Chelsea in the Premier League, announced his withdrawal from the national team due to conflicts with former coach Harry Hodzic.
In the end, Harry Hodzic dismissed get out of class, and the local coach Regraji hurriedly took over three months before this cup, and Ziyech returned to the national team.
However, this disharmonious factor within the team, as well as the temporary appointment of the head coach, have made the outside world look forward to this African team known as the "Atlas Lions" and its prospects in this cup. Low.
In addition, Morocco's previous World Cup record is not outstanding.
This is the sixth time the team has entered the World Cup finals. The first five times they only entered the top 16 in 1986 when only 24 teams participated.
In the World Cup in Russia 4 years ago, they became the first team to be eliminated from the group.
In the group draw of this cup, the Morocco team was also unlucky and entered Group F, which was guarded by the last runner-up Croatia and the last third runner-up Belgium, which was ranked second in the world. Before the game, it was considered the most difficult group to qualify. One of several teams.
But by the time the game started, the "Atlas Lion" was gradually showing its glory.
They drew the Croatian team 0:0 in the first game, won the favorite Belgian team 2:0 in the second game, and then challenged the Canadian team to qualify first in the group, leaving the last runner-up behind and the world No. 2 out early .
On December 6, local time, the 1/8 finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup continued. The match between the Morocco team and the Spanish team started at the Education City Stadium.
In this game, the two teams failed to score in regular time and overtime, and the two sides entered a penalty shootout.
In the penalty shootout, the Moroccan team relied on goalkeeper Bunu's miraculous performance to save Spanish players' penalty shots twice, helping the Moroccan team eliminate the Spanish team and break into the top 8 of the World Cup for the first time in history.
The picture shows two teams competing for a header in front of the Morocco team.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
After defeating the Spanish team in the 1/8 finals, the Moroccan team added glory to the "dark horse book": facing the three world-class teams of Croatia, Belgium, and Spain, they not only did not lose, but also achieved zero seals.
In fact, in this World Cup cycle, the Morocco team has made rapid progress.
In the world preliminaries, they first ranked first in the group with 6 consecutive victories, then defeated the Congo (Kinshasa) team in the knockout round, and successfully advanced. The world ranking has risen from the 40th place 4 years ago to the No. 22 bits.
At present, most of the players in this Moroccan team play in the five major leagues. The average age of the team is 26.3 years old, making it the 8th youngest team among the top 32.
The team is led by Paris Saint-Germain defender Ashraf, Bayern defender Mazraoui, Chelsea midfielder Ziyech, La Liga Sevilla striker Ennesri, and goalkeeper Bunu who also played for Sevilla. The strength of each position is balanced and has the ability to compete with any strong team.
Therefore, in the quarter-finals with Portugal three days later (at 23:00 on December 10, Beijing time), it would not be surprising if the "Atlas Lions" advanced to the semi-finals.
In the history of the World Cup, the biggest "dark horse" is undoubtedly the Croatian team.
In 1998, the "Lattice Legion" won the third place in the World Cup for the first time, creating the best record of the "dark horse" in the cup.
The biggest "dark horse" of the last cup was the Russian team. The "Polar Bear" who was considered the "weakest host" before the game finally advanced to the top 8.
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