• MOROCCO RATINGS: Bono, 9 – The eccentric keeper performed like his namesake with some fantastic saves, but most importantly, he was the saviour in the shootout. AFP
    MOROCCO RATINGS: Bono, 9 – The eccentric keeper performed like his namesake with some fantastic saves, but most importantly, he was the saviour in the shootout. AFP
  • Achraf Hakimi, 9 – The audacious PSG sensation rounded off a great defensive display with a panenka to knock out the Spanish. AFP
    Achraf Hakimi, 9 – The audacious PSG sensation rounded off a great defensive display with a panenka to knock out the Spanish. AFP
  • Nayef Aguerd, 8 – The West Ham star was disappointed to hobble off with an injury after showcasing great focus throughout to go alongside some key clearances. AFP
    Nayef Aguerd, 8 – The West Ham star was disappointed to hobble off with an injury after showcasing great focus throughout to go alongside some key clearances. AFP
  • Romain Saiss, 8 – Captain supreme was a vocal leader from start to finish and barely missed a step outside of a needless yellow card. AFP
    Romain Saiss, 8 – Captain supreme was a vocal leader from start to finish and barely missed a step outside of a needless yellow card. AFP
  • Noussair Mazraoui, 7 – After losing a few early battles, Mazraoui went box to box with great challenges and a nice effort that tested the keeper in the first half. EPA
    Noussair Mazraoui, 7 – After losing a few early battles, Mazraoui went box to box with great challenges and a nice effort that tested the keeper in the first half. EPA
  • Azzedine Ounahi, 8 – Cleared everything up just in front of the defence and always looked like an important presence on the counter. AFP
    Azzedine Ounahi, 8 – Cleared everything up just in front of the defence and always looked like an important presence on the counter. AFP
  • Sofyan Amrabat, 9 – Looked strong whenever he was challenged, never stopped running and prevented several key through balls from reaching the box. EPA
    Sofyan Amrabat, 9 – Looked strong whenever he was challenged, never stopped running and prevented several key through balls from reaching the box. EPA
  • Selim Amallah, 8 – The midfielder provided some smart cover when Morocco needed it and had a few nicely-timed interceptions. AFP
    Selim Amallah, 8 – The midfielder provided some smart cover when Morocco needed it and had a few nicely-timed interceptions. AFP
  • Hakim Ziyech, 8 – Chelsea’s finest came up big with a strong performance at both ends of the pitch, capping it off with a successful penalty. Getty
    Hakim Ziyech, 8 – Chelsea’s finest came up big with a strong performance at both ends of the pitch, capping it off with a successful penalty. Getty
  • Youssef En-Nesyri, 7 – Outside of a few nice plays on the defensive side of things, the big centre forward barely had a meaningful touch. EPA
    Youssef En-Nesyri, 7 – Outside of a few nice plays on the defensive side of things, the big centre forward barely had a meaningful touch. EPA
  • Sofiane Boufal, 7 – While he was forced to drop quite deep to get into the action, Boufal showed solid footwork and did a good job of hunting down the ball. EPA
    Sofiane Boufal, 7 – While he was forced to drop quite deep to get into the action, Boufal showed solid footwork and did a good job of hunting down the ball. EPA
  • SUBS: Abde Ezzalzouli, 7 – Worked hard to make things happen down the flank despite not having many big opportunities. EPA
    SUBS: Abde Ezzalzouli, 7 – Worked hard to make things happen down the flank despite not having many big opportunities. EPA
  • Walid Cheddira, 5 – The substitute forward had three golden opportunities to put Spain away, but unfortunately, he didn’t take any of them. AP
    Walid Cheddira, 5 – The substitute forward had three golden opportunities to put Spain away, but unfortunately, he didn’t take any of them. AP
  • Abdelhamid Sabiri, 8 – After some amazing moments at the back, Sabiri buried his penalty to send Morocco on their way to victory. PA
    Abdelhamid Sabiri, 8 – After some amazing moments at the back, Sabiri buried his penalty to send Morocco on their way to victory. PA
  • Jawad El Yamiq, 7 – Did well to shield the ball every time he was called upon and saved Morocco from late heartbreak at the end of extra time. AP
    Jawad El Yamiq, 7 – Did well to shield the ball every time he was called upon and saved Morocco from late heartbreak at the end of extra time. AP
  • Yahya Attiyat Allah, 7 – The no-nonsense defender held off his man, kept his composure when needed and did his job perfectly. Getty
    Yahya Attiyat Allah, 7 – The no-nonsense defender held off his man, kept his composure when needed and did his job perfectly. Getty
  • Badr Benoun, N/A – Didn’t have much time to make an impact in what served as a brief cameo prior to the shootout, in which he missed a penalty. Getty
    Badr Benoun, N/A – Didn’t have much time to make an impact in what served as a brief cameo prior to the shootout, in which he missed a penalty. Getty
  • SPAIN RATINGS: Unai Simon, 7 - Couldn’t quite hold a 32nd minute powerful shot from Mazraoui but then grabbed hold of it. Saved a 104th minute shot from Cheddira. Saved Morocco’s third penalty. Getty
    SPAIN RATINGS: Unai Simon, 7 - Couldn’t quite hold a 32nd minute powerful shot from Mazraoui but then grabbed hold of it. Saved a 104th minute shot from Cheddira. Saved Morocco’s third penalty. Getty
  • Jordi Alba, 7 - Gave the ball away which led to Morocco’s best chance of the first half. Up against tactically disciplined opponents who limited his advances. EPA
    Jordi Alba, 7 - Gave the ball away which led to Morocco’s best chance of the first half. Up against tactically disciplined opponents who limited his advances. EPA
  • Aymeric Laporte, 8 - Defended well. Key header away in a spell of Moroccan pressure on 43. Booked on 76. Had a free header on 95 minutes and got a touch to stop a Moroccan chance on goal. AFP
    Aymeric Laporte, 8 - Defended well. Key header away in a spell of Moroccan pressure on 43. Booked on 76. Had a free header on 95 minutes and got a touch to stop a Moroccan chance on goal. AFP
  • Rodri, 8 - The Manchester City defender and his club teammate Laporte completed more passes than the entire Morocco team. Little got past them, but when they were beaten Morocco had three solid chances. AFP
    Rodri, 8 - The Manchester City defender and his club teammate Laporte completed more passes than the entire Morocco team. Little got past them, but when they were beaten Morocco had three solid chances. AFP
  • Marcos Llorente, 6 - Not usually a right back, it showed too often in front of the predominantly Moroccan contingent of the 44,667 present. AFP
    Marcos Llorente, 6 - Not usually a right back, it showed too often in front of the predominantly Moroccan contingent of the 44,667 present. AFP
  • Sergio Busquets, 6 - Spain had 81% of possession but while Busquets normally has one of the highest involvement rates, Morocco squeezed him and his 57 touches (after 90 minutes) compared badly to 168 for Rodri and 149 for Laporte immediately behind him. 120th minute shot blocked as he pushed forward. Had his penalty, Spain’s third, saved. AFP
    Sergio Busquets, 6 - Spain had 81% of possession but while Busquets normally has one of the highest involvement rates, Morocco squeezed him and his 57 touches (after 90 minutes) compared badly to 168 for Rodri and 149 for Laporte immediately behind him. 120th minute shot blocked as he pushed forward. Had his penalty, Spain’s third, saved. AFP
  • Pedri, 6 - Difficult to advance against the tenacious Amrabat as Spain went to extra time for the fifth successive time in a major tournament. EPA
    Pedri, 6 - Difficult to advance against the tenacious Amrabat as Spain went to extra time for the fifth successive time in a major tournament. EPA
  • Gavi, 6 - The youngest player to start a knock-out game at the World Cup since Pele, his 25th minute shot was pushed on to the bar – though it was offside. AFP
    Gavi, 6 - The youngest player to start a knock-out game at the World Cup since Pele, his 25th minute shot was pushed on to the bar – though it was offside. AFP
  • Dani Olmo, 5 - Played in an attack which only had one shot on target in the first half, the lowest ever for Spain in a World Cup match. He made it two on 54 with a strike on target from a tight angle. His 94th minute free-kick was goal-bound and well saved. Reuters
    Dani Olmo, 5 - Played in an attack which only had one shot on target in the first half, the lowest ever for Spain in a World Cup match. He made it two on 54 with a strike on target from a tight angle. His 94th minute free-kick was goal-bound and well saved. Reuters
  • Marco Asensio, 5 - Smashed a shot into the side netting after a brilliant run to beat the offside trap. And that was about it against a highly competent defence. AFP
    Marco Asensio, 5 - Smashed a shot into the side netting after a brilliant run to beat the offside trap. And that was about it against a highly competent defence. AFP
  • Ferran Torres, 5 - Nutmegged the excellent Mazraoui after 47 and won a free-kick when pulled back. No shots, let alone on target and no key balls as Spain were stifled by their neighbours. AP
    Ferran Torres, 5 - Nutmegged the excellent Mazraoui after 47 and won a free-kick when pulled back. No shots, let alone on target and no key balls as Spain were stifled by their neighbours. AP
  • SUBS: Carlos Soler, 6 - On for Gavi on 63. Whipped a 90th minute free-kick in. Took Spain’s second penalty - poor and saved. AFP
    SUBS: Carlos Soler, 6 - On for Gavi on 63. Whipped a 90th minute free-kick in. Took Spain’s second penalty - poor and saved. AFP
  • Alvaro Morata, 5 - On for Asensio after 63. Ran into the Morocco box on 69. Struck a shot across goal on 81. Poor header in 90th minute from a Soler cross. Couldn’t find a final pass in a 116th minute attack. AP
    Alvaro Morata, 5 - On for Asensio after 63. Ran into the Morocco box on 69. Struck a shot across goal on 81. Poor header in 90th minute from a Soler cross. Couldn’t find a final pass in a 116th minute attack. AP
  • Nico William, 5 - On for Torres after 75. Lively. Set up Morata with a shot. Then brought off himself. AP
    Nico William, 5 - On for Torres after 75. Lively. Set up Morata with a shot. Then brought off himself. AP
  • Alejandro Balde, 6 - On for Alba after 97. Shot blocked two minutes later. EPA
    Alejandro Balde, 6 - On for Alba after 97. Shot blocked two minutes later. EPA
  • Ansu Fati, 6 - On for Olmo on 97. Brought energy to Spain’s attack. AFP
    Ansu Fati, 6 - On for Olmo on 97. Brought energy to Spain’s attack. AFP
  • Pablo Sarabia, 6 - On for Williams after 118 and hit a very good ball in – then hit the post with his own shot after 123 minutes, the last play of the game. Missed Spain’s first penalty. Getty
    Pablo Sarabia, 6 - On for Williams after 118 and hit a very good ball in – then hit the post with his own shot after 123 minutes, the last play of the game. Missed Spain’s first penalty. Getty

World Cup

Morocco v Spain ratings: Bono 9, Hakimi 9; Rodri 8, Torres 5

Morocco the first Arab nation to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals

Harry Kettle
Andy Mitten

December 06, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Morocco became the first Arab nation and only the fourth African nation to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals, beating Spain 3-0 in a penalty shootout on Tuesday after a goalless draw.

Achraf Hakimi, who was born in Madrid and previously played for Real Madrid, converted the deciding penalty in the shootout. Abdelhamid Sabiri and Hakim Ziyech, who returned to the national team after a dispute with the previous coach, also scored for Morocco.

Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets missed their penalties for Spain, with Sarabia hitting the post and Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stopping the other two.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon said: “We were unable to score, so no matter how much we say that we deserved to win for the chances we created and for playing more in their area, it is not going to change anything.

“The only thing left for us is to accept that we have been eliminated."

Updated: December 06, 2022, 6:40 PM
World CupSpainMorocco