Spain says goodbye to its dream with a cruel ending

Spain says goodbye to the dream with a cruel end

Luis Enrique's men completed a bad penalty shootout, after an even duel; Morocco reaches the quarterfinals for the first time

   MADRID, 6 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish team said goodbye to the World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday in the round of 16 in a cruel outcome after a fateful penalty shootout in which Spain missed three shots, after an even duel against Morocco in which 'La Roja' dominated possession , while the Africans carried out their plan to celebrate their first quarterfinals in a World Cup.

Luis Enrique's men were the owners of the ball in the first half, although without harming a very well planted Morocco and superior physically and in intensity. Both teams were able to get ahead, with an improved Spain already with Morata on the field -he was a substitute- but the match needed an extension, with the Africans somewhat more in tune, and penalties.

In the shootout, Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets all missed their shots, in a good performance by the hero of the night Yassine Bono, while the Moroccans only missed one, off Benoun's boots. As it already happened in Russia 2018, Spain says goodbye in the first round of the World Cup and does not achieve the long-awaited ticket to the quarterfinals, something that was achieved in South Africa 2010 for the last time.

The match started with the script expected in the first minutes of scoring, with Spain dominating with the ball and a more compact and contemplative Moroccan team waiting in the mid-low block. Walid Regragui's men, protected with their strong and tough scheme, ignored possession and entrusted their options at the start to quick transitions with their wingers Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal.

The first dangerous action fell on the Moroccan side, with a free kick from the edge of the winger Achraf Hakimi who licked the crossbar. Luis Enrique's pupils only came close before the first quarter of an hour after a ball without total control by the goalkeeper Yassine Bono, who was able to get rid of the pressure from Ferran Torres calmly and safely.

Spain was not quite comfortable, blurred without the ball and somewhat disordered in the pressure after loss. Morocco took advantage of this to disturb the Spanish defense with a couple of crosses without much danger. However, Spain stretched after halfway through the first half with two clear chances. The first, crashing the ball into the crossbar with a shot from Gavi after 'squeezing' Morocco's exit, but offside.

And the second, with a ball into space that Marco Asensio finished off at the side of the net. The 'Lions of the Atlas' replied with a distant, but very powerful shot from Mazraoui after a mistake by Ferran that Unai Simón caught in two stages. And they enjoyed one last 'whip' taking advantage of the confidence of a plugged-in Boufal who put a cross with music that Aguerd finished off wide. Maximum equality in this first bet.

MAXIMUM EQUALITY UNTIL A PAINFUL PENALTY SHOUT

After the break, the equality continued with an opportunity for each selection and some inaccuracies in the construction. After the first hour of play, Luis Enrique tried to shake up the match by bringing on Álvaro Morata and Carlos Soler. The rojiblanco striker gave more depth to Spain, which, however, still did not enjoy any real danger, with a couple of approaches without shots.

The center forward was the protagonist of all the attacking actions 'hitting' with the two seasoned central defenders from Morocco. In one of the struggles, Morata got away from Saïss but shot without an angle, when the 80th minute was close. The Africans responded with an isolated arrival that Sabiri did not finish off fully, who replaced En-Nesyri earlier. The Moroccans pressed at the end, already with the 'drowning' discount.

The ninety minutes ran out and gave way to extra time. The first scare was for Spain, when Morocco took advantage of the advanced defense to filter a ball that Sabiri could not convert thanks to the effort of Laporte, although the Moroccan's position was doubtful.

This mismatch woke up Spain, with an outstanding Morata who was driving the Moroccan defense 'crazy', starring twice without luck, with a more tired and erratic Morocco. Although the first half of extra time ended with a good combination from the Africans, Walid Cheddira did not finish in the area, due to a great intervention by the imposing Unai Simón. Spain pushed at the end, with a volley from Sarabia hitting the post as the last chance before penalties.

Luck was not on the Spanish side, which completed a very bad penalty shootout, with up to three misses from Sarabia, Soler and Busquets in unconvincing shots. Morocco was always clear about its plan, with a somewhat lost Spain and without finding the necessary spaces in the rocky African defense, to say goodbye earlier than expected.

DATASHEET.

--RESULT: MOROCCO, 0 - SPAIN, 0 (0-0, at halftime).

--EQUIPMENT.

MARRUECOS: Bono; Achraf Hakimi, Aguerd (El Yamiq, min. 84), Saïss, Mazraoui (Attiat-Allal, min. 82); Amrabat, Amallah (Cheddira, min. 82), Ounahi (Benoun, min. 120); Ziyech, En-Nesyri (Sabiri, min. 82) y Boufal (Abde, min. 66).

SPAIN: Unai Simón; Llorente, Rodri, Laporte, Jordi Alba (Balde, min.98); Busquets, Pedri, Gavi (Soler, min.63); Ferran (N.Williams, min.75; Sarabia, min.119), Asensio (Morata, min.63) and Dani Olmo (Ansu Fati, min.98).

--GOALS: --.

--DE PENALTIC SIGN: 3-0.

Sabiri: goal; Sarabia: fault; Ziyech: goal; Soler: fall; Benoun: fall; Busquets: foul; Hakimi: goal.

--REFEREE: Fernando Rapallini (ARG). He admonished Saïss (min.90), in Morocco; and Laporte (min.77), in Spain.

--ESTADIO: Education City Stadium.