At the 2022 World Cup, Morocco knew precisely how they would deal with a Spain side that was the favourite. In the group stages (allowing only an own goal to Canada in the group stages), they stood firm in defence and looked to hit the Spaniards on the break when they had the chance. Even if those breaks didn’t lead to anything, they would regroup and prevent Spain from breaking through. It’s okay if the match goes to extra time. If penalties were required, well, that’s fine too.

As a result, it happened. We expected Spain to move the ball throughout the match, stringing together about 1,000 passes against 250 for Morocco. When both sides went 120 minutes without scoring, there was little to separate them on the scoreboard. Spain was eliminated, and Morocco would face Portugal or Switzerland in the next round. Morocco’s men of the hour saved two penalty kicks, while Abdelhamid Sabiri, Hakim Ziyech, and Achraf Hakimi scored their spot-kicks. After winning the African Champions League with Wydad in May, Morocco coach Walid Regragui took over on 31 August. Having knocked out Spain to get into the quarterfinal, Morocco won Group F and beat world number two Belgium.

On Tuesday, a 3-0 shootout win over former champions Spain sent Morocco into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with Achraf Hakimi’s penalty conversion. Morocco became the first Arab country to qualify for the quarterfinals after Hakimi scored the decisive penalty, resulting in the crowd’s deafening roar of celebration.

Morocco vs Spain Highlights Score

There was no difference between Spain and Morocco in 120 minutes, resulting in a 0-0 draw. Yassine Bounou earned his team a 3-0 victory as he made 3 saves in the penalty shootout. The two sides tried their best in 120 minutes, but a draw could not be achieved. As a result, Morocco prevailed in penalties despite Spain’s chances to open the scoring. A penalty shootout ended 3-0 for Morocco thanks to three saves from their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

After their FIFA World Cup 2022 meeting ended in extra-time with a 0-0 tie, Moroccan forward Yassine Bounou scored three penalties to seal a 3-0 win for Morocco over Spain in penalties. Alvaro Morata and Walid Cheddira missed plenty of chances in the penalty shootout. Sarabia missed Spain’s first attempt at a shootout, but Bounou blocked Soler and Busquets. Morocco reached the quarterfinals for the first time in their history thanks to a panenka by Achraf Hakimi.

Neither team broke the deadlock in regulation time, and the match went to a penalty shootout. Even after 30 minutes of extra time, the score remained at 0-0, so the game had to be decided in a shootout. It continued Spain’s poor record in World Cup shootouts, which foreshadowed the upcoming match between Morocco and Portugal in the last eight stages of the competition.

Morocco vs Spain Head-To-Head Records At The World Cup 2022

In Tuesday’s last-16 match at the Education City Stadium, Spain will try not to be the victim of another World Cup 2022 shock. There was no way La Roja could beat Japan, who won 2-1 on the final matchday of the series last Thursday, to finish second in Group E after the 2010 Champions had been stunned by the Japanese. At the same time, the Atlas Lions topped Group F with seven points from nine games, beating Canada 2-1 in their third game to claim the title.

Both teams have previously met on this stage three times, so Luis Enrique’s team cannot afford to underestimate their African opponents this week. Pain and Morocco first did battle in the CAF-UEFA playoff during qualifying for the 1962 World Cup, where La Roja ran out 1-0 winners in the first leg before welcoming the Atlas Lions to the Bernabeu. It would be another 57 years before the two sides would meet again, with Spain advancing to the finals thanks to two goals from the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano.

Spanish and Moroccan teams competed in Group B of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and Isco’s opener gave La Roja the lead before the two sides played out a 2-2 draw on the final day. The Atlas Lions turned the tie around with goals from Khalid Boutaib and Youssef En-Nesyri. Spain recovered a point through Iago Aspas in injury time to finish top of their group.

Morocco vs Spain Final Score

List of Confirmed Line-ups:

Morocco lineup (4-3-3, right to left):

1. Yassine Bounou (GK) — 2. Achraf Hakimi, 6. Romain Saiss, 5. Naif Aguerd, 3. Noussair Mazraoui — 8. Azzedine Ounahi, 4. Sofiane Amrabat, 15. Selim Amallah — 7. Hakim Ziyech, 19. Youssef En-Nesyri, 17. Sofiane Boufal.

Spain lineup (4-3-3, right to left):

23. Unai Simon (GK) — 6. Marcos Llorente, 16. Rodri, 24. Aymeric Laporte, 18. Jordi Alba — 9. Gavi, 5. Sergio Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Ferran Torres, 10. Marco Asensio, 21. Dani Olmo.

Morocco vs Spain Head-To-Head Record

Morocco wins: 0
Spain wins: 02
Draws: 01
Morocco goals: 04
Spain goals: 06

Morocco vs Spain Match History