The Arabs called sweet oranges 'burtuqal' to distinguish them from bitter ones.

There is a linguistic debate about whether it is the origin of the name of Portugal, since it was where they were found.

Be that as it may, the truth is that, today, in Portugal all oranges taste bitter and the Arabs feel that land as a conquered land.

All Arabs, because Morocco's feat in this World Cup is also that of a culture.

The World Cup has come to the Arab world for the first time, to Qatar, but between chiaroscuro and reproaches.

To the story of Morocco on the pitch there can be none.

It is the giant killer of a civilization for the first time in the semifinals that claims its place in football.

Belgium, Spain, Portugal.

In other words,

De Bruyne

,

Pedri

,

Joao Félix

and even

Cristiano

, a Cristiano to whom Portugal's despair turned in the second half, because he is already a substitute and, after this, we'll see.

Along the way, the North African team has left a trail of corpses,

Roberto Martínez

,

Luis Enrique

and, possibly,

Fernando Santos

.

The scenario in which he managed to reach the semifinals is also symbolic.

Under the 'gahfiya' that crowns this magnificent Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha.

It is the cap worn by Arab adolescents and the message that the stadium wants to give is that of a tribute to the future of the new generations.

The Moroccan has an example on the pitch, of faith and resistance.

PORTUGAL SLOW START

The way in which they defeated Portugal was different from that of Spain.

Neither extension nor penalties.

Morocco knew how to wait for the weakness of others, supported by

Amrabat

, like a buoy, and find the goal before the break, in a splendid shot by

Amallah

, which emerged above the Portuguese defense.

The resistance came later.

The stands were the epicenter of ecstasy from Doha to Casablanca.

Failure remains for Portugal.

Shame should not be felt by those who leave everything on the field.

Spanish football, contemplative, suited Fernando Santos's team worse than Spain itself.

He initially played with his hierarchy, not with the ball, which moved slowly, very slowly, with footballers who waited for it at their feet instead of going into space in their match.

The only one who tried otherwise was

Joao Félix

, surrounded on all sides.

On the left, he sought depth with great difficulty in

Achraf

's territory , where there was no lack of help from the central defenders.

Walid Regragui

has a line of three to give back to his full-backs in transitions.

Achraf, specifically, is a dagger, although in Al-Thumama he flew less than usual, devoted to one more act of resistance.

It is the argument of Morocco.

Portugal started without being clear about theirs and without Cristiano.

JOAO FÉLIX, FROM MORE TO LESS

Joao Félix got what he was looking for between the lines and through the center, which is where it hurts.

He started with a shot that took Bono's hand off right off the bat and followed with a shot deflected by the defense.

He was the man from Portugal, but from a very non-aggressive Portugal.

Slow in getting the ball out, it was often

Pepe

who started, waiting for

Bernardo Silva

to delay .

From then on, nothing.

Start over.

If he had played handball, they would have called him passive.

A slow game was what Morocco wanted, which knows how to activate itself very well when it needs it through the wings, with

Ziyech

and

Boufal

, a demon for Spain.

In the first part, he was again more active than his peer, although Morocco lacked clean counters.

He had the best after a game that got on Portugal's nerves and could have lifted Everest at the feet of Fernando Santos.

Attiyat

arrived at the unbalanced shot.

Failure.

On the other hand, he had not done it, minutes before Amallah, in a shot after a cross in which he beat a colossus from the area like

Ruben Días

and goalkeeper

Diogo Costa

.

Cristiano, on the bench, covered his eyes under the outbreak of Al-Thumama, in whose surroundings fans were still struggling with the police, some with tickets and others without it.

Cristiano's hourglass turned for Fernando Santos at the start of the second half.

I barely waited for him to fall.

Within six minutes, he was on the pitch.

If you had to lose, let it be with all the banners;

if he won, so did the coach.

They lost but they will not be able to avoid criticism.

Perhaps his cycle will close, like that of Luis Enrique, Roberto Martínez or even

Tité

, outside the World Cup thanks to the heroism of Croatia.

They are the two surprises in the semifinals.

The Portugal coach took out everything he had, including an electric

Leao

.

Joao Félix had the best chance, but

Bono

, in his place, prevented the goal that did not come, that would never come.

Portugal is not, today, the land of sweet oranges.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • Morocco national football team

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