England are coming home as Morocco shock the world. Again!
World Cup Diaries: Day 21.
World Cup Diaries: Day 21.
10th December 2022
Act One — The glory of the Atlas Lions
MOROCCO 1 (En-Nesyri 42)
PORTUGAL 0
1st Half Analysis
Growing up what seems like a thousand years ago now, we played a simple game called “Headers and Volleys”. All you needed was a single goal, either an actual one or a goal made from jumpers and coats as posts, and we’d all take turns as the poor old goalkeeper as shots and headers rained in from all angles. The key though was that only headed or volleyed goals counted.
Yes it seems fanciful to start what I’m sure will develop into an opus article on both this game and the crazy shenanigans that follow in the day’s later game but then again, isn’t it fanciful to think that Morocco are in the World Cup semi-final this Wednesday with reigning champions France? Fanciful though that may be, it’s also remarkably true and in a World Cup pleasingly full of shock results for the ages, perhaps this evening’s result is the greatest shock of all?
Why the headers and volleys theme? Well, I hope that becomes apparent as well as evidenced, as early as the 4th minute with Portugal’s Joao Felix meeting a flying header at the near post that Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (otherwise known simply as Bono) had to claw away to safety and an early Portuguese corner. As the game settled slowly into somewhat of a rhythm, ITV commentator Jon Champion would remark that the Al Thumama Stadium felt and sounded “more Casablanca than Qatar” as a small merry band of Portugal fans were flanked on all sides by a raucous Moroccan support who jeered and whistled constantly when their heroes weren’t in possession of that valued football. Whilst Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Atletico Madrid’s mercurial (and frustrating) Joao Felix dominated in the early going with cross field passes spreading the width of the play as well as moving the Morocco defence around, the Portugal team around them faded as the North African team gained a foothold in the game.
Eventual winning goal scorer Youssef En-Nesyri had two headed chances at goal in the 6th minute as well as the 25th, but he misjudged both headers badly high, over the crossbar and never threatening the Portugal goal defended by their goalkeeping custodian Diogo Costa. Hakim Ziyech was beginning to see more of the ball for a Morocco growing into the game. Achraf Hakimi was involved more too as the first half progressed and Sofyan Amrabat was again showing why I expect the Dutch born Moroccan to move from Fiorentina in Italy to a more prominent European club in the very near future. Morocco’s number 15 Selim Amallah also blazed over the crossbar on 34 minutes, splitting two wasted goal scoring chances for Joao Felix of Portugal on 30 and 39 minutes, the latter a half volley and as we all know by now, half volleys don’t count. Not tonight anyway.
The half came to a close in a soon to be seen as historic fashion. Portugal gave Yahia Attiyat Allah far too much room to compose a wicked cross into their penalty area that goalkeeper Diogo Costa came for, jumped for, and flapped at, however he came nowhere near the ball itself as Youssef En-Nesryi hung magnificently in the air, meeting the ball perfectly and guiding it into the roof of the Portuguese net. It was a horrendous goalkeeping mistake, but it was a deserved goal for the Moroccan striker, and a history making lead.
But it almost didn’t last until half-time let alone full-time and 45 long minutes away. Otavio sprayed a beautiful cross field pass to roving Portugal defensive full back Diogo Dalot who headed into the path of Bruno Fernandes on the edge of the Morocco penalty area. From an incredibly acute angle the Manchester United man hit a perfect arcing and looping volley that beat a flailing Bono in the Morocco goal, but not his crossbar, and somehow Morocco entered the half-time break still a goal in front.
2nd Half Analysis
I saw the second half in two distinct phases. The first 25 minutes or so was dominated by a Portuguese team desperately seeking an equaliser. Although Jawad El Yamiq should have scored with an early second half header, a surging forward run from Achraf Hakimi on 48 minutes was also as noteworthy as was an emerging performance from his teammate Sofiane Boufal. Portugal meanwhile created two, arguably three gilt edged goal scoring chances and each time they failed to test Bono in the Morocco goal. With Joao Cancelo and Cristiano Ronaldo introduced as 50th minute substitutes, brilliant moves on 58 and 64 minutes should have resulted in the European nation levelling affairs. First it was a sleek move involving Fernandes and Otavio who combined to give Goncalo Ramos his only real goal scoring chance of the evening, and a header he should have scored rather than glancing inches wide and six minutes later, Bernardo Silva (who played far too deep and was largely absent from the game) squared an inviting pass to Bruno Fernandes yet again, and his fizzing shot was mere inches too high and into a baying crowd of louder and louder jeers and whistles from an expectant Moroccan army of fans now scenting victory.
I felt the final 20 minutes of normal time was rather flat considering the gravity of the situation for a Portugal team in desperate need of a goal and they only in truth created one goal scoring chance of any note. They did however finally force Bono into a save and it was as spectacular as the Joao Felix left footed piledriver that forced it. A tiring Morocco defence gave away a loose ball on the edge of their own penalty area and Cristiano Ronaldo laid a perfect pass into the running stride of Joao Felix, and his fantastic drive was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by a flying, full length Bono. Ronaldo broke free of the retreating Morocco defence as the game entered injury time, forcing another important save from Bono, whilst Sofyan Amrabat set substitute Zakaria Aboukhal free of a vacant Portugal defence seeking a last minute equaliser. With only the goalkeeper to beat, the 22 year old rather fluffed his lines, and it could and should have proven costly.
With barely seconds left on the clock at the end of injury time, the grizzled Portuguese old stager Pepe had a header at the far post he could and arguably should have scored, but the 39 year old’s header went agonisingly wide. Remarkably, he received a kiss of thanks on the top of his forehead from Sofyan Amrabat and seconds later, his Morocco team had completed the impossible.
Afterword
Cristiano Ronaldo left the field of play in tears, no doubt clouded in a stark realisation that he’ll never win the game’s ultimate prize. His teammate Bruno Fernandes didn’t deserve to be on the losing team this evening.
But mighty Morocco! Wow! Belgium, Spain and now Portugal, all conquered, and they now have the small matter of France and the current reigning World Cup champions on Wednesday night. They are the first African team to ever reach the semi-final stages of a World Cup and with a manager who’s only been in charge of the squad for a little over three months. Arguably one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history if not THE shock, and I have nothing but the greatest of praise for their monumental achievement.
And if that isn’t the feel good story you’re looking for, check out the video of Achraf Hakimi getting the biggest of hugs and kisses from his incredibly proud mother after the game.
Morocco are in a World Cup semi-final. Bravo!
Act Two — France a step too far for England’s gallant Three Lions
ENGLAND 1 (Kane 54)
FRANCE 2 (Tchouameni 17, Giroud 78)
1st Half Analysis
Prior to kick-off I scribbled the following expected match-ups across the pitch and with the exception of one, the others disappointingly didn’t materialise. But it was still a quite astounding, remarkable and controversy laden World Cup quarter-final:
Kylian Mbappe v Kyle Walker
Adrien Rabiot v Declan Rice
Antoine Griezmann/Ousmane Dembele v Phil Foden/Jude Bellingham
The individual battle that really took shape and somewhat defined the first half was that of the diminutive Griezmann and mesmerising skills of Dembele versus the left footed brilliance of Phil Foden and the energy and match awareness of 19 year old Jude Bellingham. Ousmane Dembele would become more prominent in the second half as would Phil Foden after a completely anonymous first 45 minutes and Jude Bellingham simply didn’t deserve to be on the losing side this evening but he was, and that’s getting ahead of ourselves. It was Antoine Griezmann’s first half as he showcased a masterclass of ball retention, ball rotation, game control and sheer bloody minded genius. I’ve long admired the 31 year old playmaker for Atletico Madrid. He has an innate footballing logic, ability to control and dictate the play and flow of a game as well as having a seemingly laissez faire approach to the whole thing. A World Cup quarter-final? He’ll no doubt give you a shrug of the shoulders and a carefree smile. Worry? Me? Then he’ll smash his way into a tackle, win back possession of the ball and gift it to one of his teammates. It was Antoine Griezmann’s first half, and he was majestic at times.
The game’s first goal scoring opportunity on 11 minutes involved Griezmann after he received the ball after a brilliant incisive exchange of passes between Rabiot and Dembele. Griezmann returned the compliment to Dembele who’s cross was met by the head of Olivier Giroud but with the French striker falling to the ground and the ball slightly behind him, his weak header was easily saved by Jordan Pickford in the England goal. The French had served notice of their attacking intentions, and six minutes later they’d grab an early lead.
GOAL! ENGLAND 0 FRANCE 1 (Tchouameni 17)
I haven’t watched any highlights of the game and I’m penning these thoughts directly from my original impression of the game and via my trusty notes, but to my mind’s eye there was a clear foul on England’s Bukayo Saka by Dayot Upamecano deep in the French half of the field leading to the eventual goal itself, but the foul was not deemed worthy of an initial decision from Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio or the dreaded VAR. This was the first of a number of 50/50 decisions that fell in favour of the defending champions, as well as a number of bizarre decisions from a referee who was abject at best, utterly dreadful at worst.
But France swept majestically forward. Dayot Upamecano strode forward before releasing a pass to Mbappe who relayed the ball to Griezmann as the French patiently kept the ball flowing and moving now across the field and in front of the England penalty area. Dembele now passed inside to Griezmann who coolly slotted a pass to Aurelien Tchouameni and after a controlling touch, the 22 year old Real Madrid midfielder drilled a low shot through a crowd of bodies from fully 25 yards that arrowed into the far corner of the England net, leaving Jordan Pickford utterly helpless.
Despite going a goal down England dominated the next ten minutes or so and were yet again denied by a bizarre refereeing decision. First Luke Shaw curled a rather tepid free-kick on 20 minutes that gave French captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris his first, and easiest, save of the evening before the Tottenham Hotspur shot stopper was forced to save from his club mate and club captain, Harry Kane. The England skipper brilliantly rolled Dayot Upamecano in the French penalty area but was denied by his Tottenham teammate with a brilliant and instinctive close in smothering save on 22 minutes and just 3 minutes later, the England captain appeared to be tripped in a tangle of legs with Dayot Upamecano. Whilst I, and presumably an entire watching world, debated whether it was a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty area or indeed a penalty (the trip was right on the line of the penalty area), the referee continued with play and there was no VAR intervention once again. If you’re a longer term reader of mine you’ll realise there’s no bias here even though I am an Englishman. But it was a free-kick at worst, a penalty at best, and yet again the referee simply waved for play to continue.
Kane tested his clubmate in the France goal once more on 28 minutes as Hugo Lloris made a flying full length dive to deny him and whilst the rest of the first half played out without any further noteworthy events, I replaced them with my own scribbled notes. I felt England had more than shaded this first half even though Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka had barely had a kick and Jordan Henderson was trying (bless his Liverpool bones) but was failing badly in the centre of midfield. Kylian Mbappe too had barely a kick of the ball in the first 45 minutes and France were wholly indebted to an incredible goal and the incredible game awareness and skills of Antoine Griezmann.
2nd Half Analysis
England start the second half as brightly as they ended the first, forcing a corner just two minutes into the half. A loose clearance from the corner fell to Jude Bellingham and his rasping first time volley was spectacularly and brilliantly tipped over his crossbar by Hugo Lloris. England were worthy of an equaliser. Minutes later, they had their just desserts.
GOAL! ENGLAND 1 FRANCE 1 (Kane 54)
With England attacking again down their right and the French defensive left, Bukayo Saka played a neat one-two with Jude Bellingham before being felled in the penalty area by an unnecessary challenge from first half goalscorer Aurelien Tchouameni. Thankfully sanity prevailed on this occasion as the referee pointed immediately to the penalty spot, and Harry Kane sent his clubmate the wrong way and smashed his spot-kick into the top corner of the France goal.
England were level and deservedly so.
The game became stretched immediately after England’s equaliser with Adrien Rabiot strolling through the centre of the English defence before unleashing a half volley shot that forced Jordan Pickford to beat away before we finally had the first tussle and foot race of the evening between Kylian Mbappe and Kyle Walker. The Parisian won this small individual duel but the move petered out into nothing before both Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane tested Hugo Lloris again from long distance. The saves were comfortable enough but they epitomised the dominance and attacking force being displayed by England. So too was the second half display of Jordan Henderson who was clearly given the order at half-time to be the “gunner” or the man from midfield to chase and hassle every French defensive clearance thus denying them the opportunity to grab hold of the game, play patiently with the ball and impose their style on the game. Henderson was magnificent for half an hour before his eventual substitution, and for this period of the game in particular, France were rattled with a capital R and England had the world champions on the ropes.
On 70 minutes, Henderson curled a beautiful free-kick into the France penalty area which Harry Maguire met magnificently with a flicked header that saw Hugo Lloris scrambling across his goal. He may have saved it, may, but Maguire’s header brushed the outside of the far post instead. France were indeed rattled but finally mounted an attacking challenge of their own. Rabiot’s cross was headed back across the England goal by Dembele leaving Giroud with a fairly simple volley to give his team a 2–1 lead, but it wasn’t in the corner of the goal and Pickford pulled off a smart save to keep his team level.
Seconds later, he’d be as helpless as he was for France’s first goal.
GOAL! ENGLAND 1 FRANCE 2 (Giroud 78)
From the resulting corner following Pickford’s save, England appeared to have repelled any danger with a deep defensive clearance. However, Antoine Griezmann’s incredible cross was met at the near post by Olivier Giroud, and his header ricocheted off Harry Maguire and past a helpless Pickford in a flash.
England had 12 minutes to save their World Cup and appeared to be given a gift almost immediately. Bellingham’s forward pass into the heart of the France penalty area saw substitute Mason Mount unceremoniously bundled over by the error prone and French defensive weak link, Theo Hernandez. Bizarrely, again, the referee saw nothing wrong with the immediate foul despite it being as blatant a foul, and penalty, as you could wish to see. Insanity prevailed (I despise VAR but the referee this evening was completely to blame) and advised to do so by his VAR colleagues, Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio saw the error of his ways and pointed to the penalty spot for the second time in this momentous second half of football. England and Harry Kane had an almost immediate chance to equalise in a game they’d largely bossed and been the superior of the two teams, but unbelievably, Kane blasted his penalty high and wide of a now jubilant Hugo Lloris in front of his French goal.
Gareth Southgate’s gallant (for they were) “Three Lions” had one final opportunity with the very last kick of the game, a free-kick from substitute Marcus Rashford which grazed the top of the crossbar, but the referee’s immediate whistle signalled the end of the road for this era of England team, and a team who produced arguably their best ever performance under his stewardship, and still received the rough end of an unjust result.
Afterword
Such is football. Such is life. England deserved far better and had the reigning champions and champions of the world lest we forget, on the ropes, rattled, at odds and completely out of the game. I saw England on top even when 1–0 down and especially so when level and throughout the second half leading up to Olivier Giroud’s winning goal. In my daily diaries here I said that France would beat the piss out of England as I never believed they had this performance in them and I couldn’t see them living with the pace of Kylian Mbappe or the intricacy and attacking prowess of Ousame Dembele and Antoine Griezmann. Mbappe barely had a kick, Dembele was in and out of the game and despite having a highlights laden first half, Griezmann was anonymous for large parts of the second half until that defining moment on 78 minutes when he provided an impossible to defend cross for the winning goal.
The referee was utterly, utterly dreadful.
France were fortunate yet clinical.
England are out in their usual cruel and unfortunate way.
Such is tournament football.
hayaa ya maghrib (Come on Morocco!)
Thanks for reading. In addition to the delights that can be found within the cave of wonders that is my archives, I’m penning a day to day diary of the World Cup, and here are days 18 through 20:
Argentina and Croatia in a shoot-out for the World Cup Final
World Cup Diaries: Day 20.medium.com
World Cup quarter-finals, and the “Hand of God”
World Cup Diaries: Day 19.medium.com
Full Moon Fever at the World Cup
World Cup Diaries: Day 18.medium.com