Morocco became the first Arab country to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup, in the first edition of this competition to be held in an Arab country.
Morocco became the first Arab country to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup, in the first edition of this competition to be held in an Arab country.
The “Aguilas del Atlas” became the 40th team that will be among the eight best in a World Cup, after having passed the group stage as the first and having defeated Spain in a penalty shootout in the round of 16.
Thanks to the great performance of goalkeeper Bono, Morocco also became the first African country to win a World Cup penalty shootout and the first to reach the quarterfinals since Senegal did in 2010.
The Sevilla goalkeeper kept a clean sheet during regulation time, extra time and even the penalty shootout, in which he saved those of Busquets and Soler, while Sarabia’s goalkeeper crashed into a post.
Morocco is the fourth African country to reach the top eight in a World Cup, after Senegal in 2010, Cameroon in 1990 and Ghana in 2010.
In Qatar, the first Arab country to hold a World Cup, Morocco is the only survivor in the quarterfinals that is not European or South American.
His rival will come out of the duel between Portugal and Switzerland and the rest of the qualifiers are France, England, the Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil and Croatia.
Morocco had reached the round of 16 for the second time in its history, after being eliminated in that round by Germany in 1986 with a goal from Lothar Matthaus in the 88th minute.
Led by the local coach Walid Regragui, he has managed to maintain the defensive solidity that the French-Bosnian Vahid Halilodzic had imposed on him, who led the “eagles of the Atlas” between 2019 and last August, when discrepancies with the Federation cost him his job.
In the last 56 games, Morocco have only conceded three defeats and less than an average of one goal per game. In Qatar they have won two of their duels, against Belgium (0-2) and against Canada (1-2), while they drew 0-0 against Croatia, which scored the only goal they have conceded so far, which gave them first place in the group and makes him the team with the fewest goals conceded.
Throughout the World Cup, Morocco has been receiving the support of the fans of other Arab countries.
Now, Morocco dreams of becoming the first Arab team and the first African team to reach the semifinals.