Spain headed into the game as favourites to come out on top. And when all was said and done.
Luis Enrique’s side started well and controlled play for the most part. However, Morocco did counter well and tested Spain’s defence in the early stages.
Spain had the first big chance of the game 25 minutes in, hitting the crossbar before the rebound was flagged for offside.
Minutes later, Marco Asensio beat the offside trap but hit the side netting.
Noussair Mazraoui then had Morocco’s first shot on target 32 minutes in from outside the box, but it was saved easily.
The African outfit continued to sit deep and hit Spain on the counter but were unable to find a breakthrough in the first 45.
Luis Enrique then made several changes to try and add some much-needed attacking threat to his side, with Alvaro Morata smashing the ball across the goal line shortly after coming on.
Uni Simon nearly cost Spain the tie late in injury time with a poor touch but he got away with it and that was the final big moment of normal time.
This was followed by Walid Cheddira being put through on goal early in extra time before scuffing his chance.
Cheddira then should have scored 14 minutes into ET but he hit his chance straight at Simon.
Neither side was able to find a goal in extra time, meaning the tie would be decided by penalties.
Spain missed their first three penalties with Morocco scoring two. Hakimi then score the winner with a panenka.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player Ratings
Morocco
- GK: Yassine Bounou (8)
- RB: Achraf Hakimi (7.5)
- CB: Romain Saïss (6.5)
- CB: Nayef Aguerd (7)
- LB: Noussair Mazraoui (6.5)
- CM: Azzedine Ounahi (6.5)
- CM: Sofyan Amrabat (7)
- CM: Selim Amallah (6)
- RW: Hakim Ziyech (6)
- ST: Youssef En-Nesyri (6)
- LW: Sofiane Boufal (6.5)
Substitutes:
- Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (6)
- Yahia Attiyat Allah (5.5)
- Abdelhamid Sabiri (6)
- Walid Cheddira (4)
- Jawad El Yamiq (5)
- Badr Benoun (N/A)
Spain
- GK: Unai Simon (5.5)
- RB: Marcos Llorente (6.5)
- CB: Rodri (7)
- CB: Aymeric Laporte (7)
- LB: Jordi Alba (6)
- CDM: Sergio Busquets (
- CM: Gavi (6.5)
- CM: Pedri (6)
- RW: Marco Asensio (6)
- ST: Ferran Torres (6)
- LW: Dani Olmo (6)
Substitutes
- Alavaro Morata (6.5)
- Carlos Soler (6)
- Nico Williams (7)
- Ansu Fati (6)
- Alejandro Balde (5.5)
- Pablo Sarabia (2)
Match reaction
30’ mark accurate pass count:
Laporte 54
Rodri 52
Busquets 15Illustrates #MAR approach out of possession: En-Nesyri is blocking access to Busquets, Laporte + Rodri are never pressed so they see plenty of it #ESP
— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) December 6, 2022
18 – Aged 18 years and 123 days Gavi 🇪🇸 is the youngest player to start a knockout match at the #FIFAWorldCup since Pelé 🇧🇷 in the 1958 final (17y 249d). Gem. pic.twitter.com/fwHuPCEOFp
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 6, 2022
17 – Sergio Busquets will equal Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos as Spain’s 🇪🇸 most capped players in the history of the World Cup. Captain. pic.twitter.com/5mhnlducEO
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 6, 2022
25 – Asensio’s shot (25 minutes and 56 seconds) was Spain’s latest first shot in a World Cup match since 13 July 1966 (29 minutes and 15 seconds against Argentina when they lost 1-2). Shy. #MORSPA pic.twitter.com/mg5sxGw3Nn
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 6, 2022
Morocco are willing to be patient and wait for Spain mistakes to break. Spain are also being patient with their probing possession but not taking too many risks to allow counterattacks. This could be an attritional affair. #MAR #ESP #FIFAWorldCup
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) December 6, 2022
Gavi so like Iniesta in how he can take the ball almost anywhere and come away with it.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) December 6, 2022
Take-ons completed in the first 35 minutes:
4 – Sofiane Boufal
3 – Every other player on the pitchDancing feet. 👣#FIFAWorldCup
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) December 6, 2022
Nico Williams has been Spain’s best player already.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) December 6, 2022
Noussair Mazraoui’s game by numbers vs. Spain:
82% pass accuracy
5 clearances
4/5 ground duels won
3 tackles won
1/1 dribble completed
1 shot on targetDefensively sound. 👊 pic.twitter.com/UPUKvv46I1
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 6, 2022
Spain with just one shot on target against Bono. They still haven’t found what they’re looking for.🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/GAGnUtycil
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 6, 2022
