DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Africa lastly has a workforce within the World Cup semifinals, and so does the Arab world.
Morocco delivered a seminal second within the practically 100-year historical past of soccer’s largest event, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal workforce 1-0 Saturday in one other surprising end result within the first World Cup staged within the Center East.
Whereas a tearful Ronaldo headed proper down the tunnel — and perhaps into worldwide retirement — after the ultimate whistle, Morocco’s gamers tossed their coach within the air and waved their nation’s flag as they linked arms in entrance of celebrating followers.
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“Pinch me, I’m dreaming,” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stated. “Morocco is able to face anybody on the planet. We’ve got modified the mentality of the era coming after us. They’ll know Moroccan gamers can create miracles.”
Youssef En-Nesyri scored the successful objective within the forty second minute to proceed an unbelievable run that has generated an outpouring of delight within the Arab world, inspiring shows in Arab id from followers in several international locations.
Africa can also be rejoicing at lastly having a nation advancing to the degrees usually solely reached by European or South American groups. Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all reached the quarterfinals however acquired no additional.
Morocco has damaged via, organising a semifinal match in opposition to defending champion France.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo, one among soccer’s biggest gamers however now a fading power, didn’t begin for the second straight sport and got here on in its place within the 51st minute. He missed his solely probability to equalize in stoppage time.
The five-time world participant of the yr is about to complete his profession with out capturing the World Cup or ever attending to the ultimate. He walked proper off the sector after the ultimate whistle, solely briefly stopped by two Morocco gamers wishing to shake his hand and a spectator who confronted him close to the doorway to the tunnel, and was crying as he headed to the locker room.
If that is the top for Ronaldo at worldwide degree, he’ll end with 118 objectives — a file in males’s soccer — and a European Championship title however not soccer’s largest prize. He solely acquired so far as the semifinals on the World Cup, in 2006.
“Our gamers are distressed,” stated Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who shrugged off questions on his personal future and added that he didn’t remorse not beginning Ronaldo. “Cristiano is a superb participant and he got here on once we thought it was obligatory. However no, no regrets.”
There’s no cause why this Morocco squad — coached by French-born Walid Regragui and containing 14 gamers born overseas — can not go all the best way to the title. They topped a bunch that included second-ranked Belgium and fellow semifinalist Croatia and have now taken down two of Europe’s heavyweights in Spain — after a penalty shootout within the spherical of 16 — and Portugal within the quarterfinals.
“Why shouldn’t we dream of successful the World Cup?” Regragui stated. “For those who don’t dream, you don’t get wherever. It doesn’t price you to dream.”
Morocco’s protection has but to concede a objective by an opposition participant at this yr’s World Cup — the one one it has allowed was an own-goal — and it stifled a Portugal workforce which beat Switzerland 6-1 within the final 16 to thrust itself among the many favorites.
In a sport performed to the backdrop of continuous whistles and jeers by Morocco’s passionate followers, the workforce relied virtually completely on counterattacks and scored from one among them.
A cross was swung in from the left and En-Nesyri leapt between Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias to go into the empty web.
Ronaldo, who will probably be 41 by the point of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, barely acquired a contact of the ball till stoppage time when he acquired in behind Morocco’s protection off an extended ball ahead. His low shot was saved by Bounou.
“I used to be afraid he would possibly play,” Regragui stated of Ronaldo, “as a result of I do know he can rating out of nothing.”
Substitute Walid Cheddira was proven a pink card for Morocco early in stoppage time for accumulating a second yellow card in as many minutes.
After Portugal middle again Pepe headed vast from contained in the six-yard field within the sixth minute of added time, Ronaldo fell to his knees in dejection.
Whereas Lionel Messi will probably be within the semifinals with Argentina, the opposite soccer nice of this era gained’t be.
INJURIES
Morocco might need to manage with out its two beginning middle backs within the semifinals. Nayef Aguerd missed the sport in opposition to Portugal with a thigh harm and Romain Saiss, Morocco’s captain, was carried off on a stretcher with a suspected left hamstring harm. One other key member of the protection, left again Noussair Mazraoui, was absent due to an sickness whereas Regragui stated proper again Achraf Hakimi has been enjoying with an harm.
RONALDO
Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to attain within the knockout stage in any of the 5 World Cups he has performed. He has scored eight objectives within the group stage.