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Bruno Fernandes of Portugal and Switzerland's Granit Xhaka
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Matchday 17 Live Blog: Portugal and Morocco advance to quarters
Join us for Matchday 17 as we bring you the key moments and highlights from today's FIFA World Cup fixtures.
Bruno Fernandes of Portugal and Switzerland's Granit Xhaka
Second half starts
46' - Morocco begin second half
The African nation restart proceedings looking to get the upper hand in this knockout clash.
The African nation restart proceedings looking to get the upper hand in this knockout clash.
Half-time whistle blows
HT - The referee calls an end to the first half
The players head for the tunnel after a tight but entertaining 45 minutes in Al-Rayyan.
The players head for the tunnel after a tight but entertaining 45 minutes in Al-Rayyan.
First half under way
1' - Kick-off
We are underway with the start of the first half at Education City Stadium.
We are underway with the start of the first half at Education City Stadium.
Spain Stats
· Spain are one of the eight teams to have won the World Cup, and are the most recent first-time winner. They lifted the trophy in 2010 in South Africa after a 1-0 win after extra time in the final against Netherlands (116th-minute goal by Andrés Iniesta).
· Since Spain won the trophy in 2010, they have won only three of their 10 World Cup matches (W3-D4-L3): 3-0 against Australia in the 2014 group stage (both teams were already eliminated), 1-0 versus IR Iran in the 2018 group stage and 7-0 versus Costa Rica in the 2022 group stage. One of the four draws was a penalty shootout exit against hosts Russia in the 2018 round of last 16.
· Spain were eliminated in the round of last 16 three times at the World Cup (out of eight round of last 16 appearances): by Yugoslavia (2-1 after extra time) in 1990, by France (3-1) in 2006 and by Russia (after shootout) in 2018.
· Spain won only one of their four World Cup penalty shootouts: against Republic of Ireland in the round of last 16 at the 2002 World Cup (3-2). Luis Enrique played for Spain in that match, but did not participate in the shootout.
· Spain lost their World Cup penalty shootouts against Belgium (quarter-final, 1986), Korea Republic (quarter-final, 2002) and Russia (last 16, 2018). Koke and Iago Aspas saw their attempts saved against Russia in 2018.
· Spain survived their penalty shootout against Switzerland in the EURO 2020 quarter-finals (3-1), but were eliminated in the shootout against Italy in the semi-finals (4-2).
· Unai Simón saved two penalties against the Swiss (also one wide) and one against the Italians.
· Spain have never played an international match on Día de la Constitución (6 December).
· Álvaro Morata (3 goals) could join five Spaniards who scored at least four goals at a single World Cup: Emilio Butragueño (5 in 1986), David Villa (5 in 2010), Zarra (4 in 1950), Estanislao Basora (4 in 1950) and Míchel (4 in 1990).
· Morata became the second Spaniard to score in the nation's first three group stage matches of a single World Cup, after Zarra in 1950. Only David Villa (2010) has ever netted in four successive World Cup matches for Spain (but not from the start of the tournament).
· Morata (30 goals in 60 appearances) is fifth in Spain's all-time leading goalscorers. David Silva (35) is fourth on the list.
· Including a Nations League goal against Portugal in September (1-0 away win), Morata has netted in each of his last four appearances for Spain in all competitions. In the last 35 years, only Fernando Hierro (6, 1998-1999), David Villa (6, 2008-2009) and Sergio Ramos (5, 2018-2019) managed to score in five successive appearances for La Roja.
· Gavi (one versus Costa Rica) can become the fourth player to score multiple World Cup goals before his 19th birthday, after Brazil's Pelé (6, 1958), Mexico's Manuel Rosas (2, 1930) and England's Michael Owen (2, 1998).
· Gavi (18 years and 123 days old on the day of the match) can become the second-youngest goalscorer in the World Cup knockout stage, after Pelé (6 goals at age 17) in 1958.
· Eric García (FC Barcelona), Álvaro Morata (Atlético Madrid) and Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid) have scored against Morocco's Bono (Sevilla) in this season's La Liga.
· Sergio Busquets (16) can equal Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos (17) on a national record 17 World Cup appearances.
· Busquets is one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Since Spain won the trophy in 2010, they have won only three of their 10 World Cup matches (W3-D4-L3): 3-0 against Australia in the 2014 group stage (both teams were already eliminated), 1-0 versus IR Iran in the 2018 group stage and 7-0 versus Costa Rica in the 2022 group stage. One of the four draws was a penalty shootout exit against hosts Russia in the 2018 round of last 16.
· Spain were eliminated in the round of last 16 three times at the World Cup (out of eight round of last 16 appearances): by Yugoslavia (2-1 after extra time) in 1990, by France (3-1) in 2006 and by Russia (after shootout) in 2018.
· Spain won only one of their four World Cup penalty shootouts: against Republic of Ireland in the round of last 16 at the 2002 World Cup (3-2). Luis Enrique played for Spain in that match, but did not participate in the shootout.
· Spain lost their World Cup penalty shootouts against Belgium (quarter-final, 1986), Korea Republic (quarter-final, 2002) and Russia (last 16, 2018). Koke and Iago Aspas saw their attempts saved against Russia in 2018.
· Spain survived their penalty shootout against Switzerland in the EURO 2020 quarter-finals (3-1), but were eliminated in the shootout against Italy in the semi-finals (4-2).
· Unai Simón saved two penalties against the Swiss (also one wide) and one against the Italians.
· Spain have never played an international match on Día de la Constitución (6 December).
· Álvaro Morata (3 goals) could join five Spaniards who scored at least four goals at a single World Cup: Emilio Butragueño (5 in 1986), David Villa (5 in 2010), Zarra (4 in 1950), Estanislao Basora (4 in 1950) and Míchel (4 in 1990).
· Morata became the second Spaniard to score in the nation's first three group stage matches of a single World Cup, after Zarra in 1950. Only David Villa (2010) has ever netted in four successive World Cup matches for Spain (but not from the start of the tournament).
· Morata (30 goals in 60 appearances) is fifth in Spain's all-time leading goalscorers. David Silva (35) is fourth on the list.
· Including a Nations League goal against Portugal in September (1-0 away win), Morata has netted in each of his last four appearances for Spain in all competitions. In the last 35 years, only Fernando Hierro (6, 1998-1999), David Villa (6, 2008-2009) and Sergio Ramos (5, 2018-2019) managed to score in five successive appearances for La Roja.
· Gavi (one versus Costa Rica) can become the fourth player to score multiple World Cup goals before his 19th birthday, after Brazil's Pelé (6, 1958), Mexico's Manuel Rosas (2, 1930) and England's Michael Owen (2, 1998).
· Gavi (18 years and 123 days old on the day of the match) can become the second-youngest goalscorer in the World Cup knockout stage, after Pelé (6 goals at age 17) in 1958.
· Eric García (FC Barcelona), Álvaro Morata (Atlético Madrid) and Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid) have scored against Morocco's Bono (Sevilla) in this season's La Liga.
· Sergio Busquets (16) can equal Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos (17) on a national record 17 World Cup appearances.
· Busquets is one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Morocco Stats
· Morocco are in their sixth World Cup appearance, after 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2018. Only in 1986 did they also reach the knockout stage of a World Cup, when they were eliminated 1-0 by West Germany in the round of last 16 (88th-minute free-kick by Lothar Matthäus).
· Morocco can become the fourth nation from the CAF zone to qualify for the quarter-finals of a World Cup, after Cameroon in 1990 (eliminated by England after extra time), Senegal in 2002 (eliminated by Türkiye on the golden goal rule) and Ghana in 2010 (eliminated by Uruguay on penalties). Note: Excludes the 2022 World Cup.
· Morocco have won as many World Cup matches in 2022 (W2-D1-L0) as in their 16 previous World Cup matches combined (W2-D5-L9).
· Morocco (W2-D2-L0) are unbeaten in their last four World Cup matches. Only Netherlands (W7-D3-L0, matches resulting in a shootout are classed as a draw) are on a longer unbeaten streak at the World Cup. Note: Netherlands play against USA on Saturday 3 December.
· Amongst nations from the CAF zone, only Cameroon (5, 1982-1990) have ever stayed unbeaten in more successive World Cup matches than Morocco (4).
· Morocco have never participated in a World Cup shootout.
· Morocco's most recent shootout saw them being eliminated by Algeria in the 2021 Arab Cup quarter-finals (5-3, 2-2 after 120 minutes). That match took place in Doha, Qatar.
· Morocco manager Walid Regragui played 26 La Liga matches (no goals) for Racing Santander from January 2005 to May 2006.
· Morocco's four 2022 World Cup goals were scored by Romain Saïss, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri.
· Youssef En-Nesyri is the only player to score for Morocco at multiple World Cups. He also netted against Spain in 2018.
· En-Nesyri is one of four players on multiple World Cup goals for Morocco, alongside Abdeljalil Hadda, Abderrazak Khaïri and Salaheddine Bassir (all 2).
· Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech can surpass Mustapha Hadji (6) as Morocco's leading World Cup appearance maker.
· Ziyech (19) is joint-third in Morocco's leading goalscorers, alongside Ayoub El Kaabi and Abdeljalil Hadda (19 each). Ahmed Faras (36) and Salaheddine Bassir (27) make up the top two.
· Yassine 'Bono' Bounou, Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna) and Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid) play their club football in Spain.
· Hakimi (Madrid) and goalkeeper Munir (Mulilla) were born in Spain. Hakimi was attached to Real Madrid as a (youth) player from 2006 to 2020, making 17 official appearances (2 goals) for the club.
· Sofyan Amrabat and Abdelhamid Sabiri will be suspended if booked.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Morocco can become the fourth nation from the CAF zone to qualify for the quarter-finals of a World Cup, after Cameroon in 1990 (eliminated by England after extra time), Senegal in 2002 (eliminated by Türkiye on the golden goal rule) and Ghana in 2010 (eliminated by Uruguay on penalties). Note: Excludes the 2022 World Cup.
· Morocco have won as many World Cup matches in 2022 (W2-D1-L0) as in their 16 previous World Cup matches combined (W2-D5-L9).
· Morocco (W2-D2-L0) are unbeaten in their last four World Cup matches. Only Netherlands (W7-D3-L0, matches resulting in a shootout are classed as a draw) are on a longer unbeaten streak at the World Cup. Note: Netherlands play against USA on Saturday 3 December.
· Amongst nations from the CAF zone, only Cameroon (5, 1982-1990) have ever stayed unbeaten in more successive World Cup matches than Morocco (4).
· Morocco have never participated in a World Cup shootout.
· Morocco's most recent shootout saw them being eliminated by Algeria in the 2021 Arab Cup quarter-finals (5-3, 2-2 after 120 minutes). That match took place in Doha, Qatar.
· Morocco manager Walid Regragui played 26 La Liga matches (no goals) for Racing Santander from January 2005 to May 2006.
· Morocco's four 2022 World Cup goals were scored by Romain Saïss, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri.
· Youssef En-Nesyri is the only player to score for Morocco at multiple World Cups. He also netted against Spain in 2018.
· En-Nesyri is one of four players on multiple World Cup goals for Morocco, alongside Abdeljalil Hadda, Abderrazak Khaïri and Salaheddine Bassir (all 2).
· Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech can surpass Mustapha Hadji (6) as Morocco's leading World Cup appearance maker.
· Ziyech (19) is joint-third in Morocco's leading goalscorers, alongside Ayoub El Kaabi and Abdeljalil Hadda (19 each). Ahmed Faras (36) and Salaheddine Bassir (27) make up the top two.
· Yassine 'Bono' Bounou, Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna) and Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid) play their club football in Spain.
· Hakimi (Madrid) and goalkeeper Munir (Mulilla) were born in Spain. Hakimi was attached to Real Madrid as a (youth) player from 2006 to 2020, making 17 official appearances (2 goals) for the club.
· Sofyan Amrabat and Abdelhamid Sabiri will be suspended if booked.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Head-to-Head: Morocco v Spain
· Based on Gracenote's World Cup forecast, Spain have a 60% chance to reach the quarter-finals (Morocco 40%).
· Morocco and Spain meet for second time at the World Cup, after a 2-2 draw in Kalingrad in the final group stage match at the 2018 World Cup. Morocco scored via Khalid Boutaïb (14') and Youssef En-Nesyri (81'), but Isco (19') and Iago Aspas (90+1') equalised for Spain. Spain finished top of the group, ahead of Portugal, IR Iran and Morocco.
· Of the four goalscorers in the previous World Cup meeting between these nations, only Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri is also in the 2022 World Cup squad.
· The only other previous international matches between Spain and Morocco were in an intercontinental play-off during qualification for the 1962 World Cup. La Roja progressed to the tournament in Chile after a 4-2 aggregate victory.
· The first fixture between Spain and Morocco came in the aforementioned World Cup qualifying play-off first leg, in Casablanca on 12 November 1961. Spain won 1-0 with a goal by Luis del Sol. The second leg was played 11 days later at Bernabéu in Madrid. The hosts won 3-2 with goals by Marcelino, Alfredo di Stéfano and Enrique Collar. Sellam Riahi and Abdallah Ben Barek scored for the visitors.
· All five of Spain's World Cup matches against CAF opposition have come in the group stage. They recorded victories versus Algeria (3-0 in Monterrey in 1986), South Africa (3-2 in Daejeon in 2002), Tunisia (3-1 in Stuttgart in 2006), a defeat against Nigeria (3-2 in Nantes in 1998) and a draw against Morocco (2-2 in Kalingrad in 2018).
· Club teammates who could be in opposition are Hakim Ziyech and César Azpilicueta (Chelsea), and Achraf Hakimi and Carlos Soler/Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain).
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Morocco and Spain meet for second time at the World Cup, after a 2-2 draw in Kalingrad in the final group stage match at the 2018 World Cup. Morocco scored via Khalid Boutaïb (14') and Youssef En-Nesyri (81'), but Isco (19') and Iago Aspas (90+1') equalised for Spain. Spain finished top of the group, ahead of Portugal, IR Iran and Morocco.
· Of the four goalscorers in the previous World Cup meeting between these nations, only Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri is also in the 2022 World Cup squad.
· The only other previous international matches between Spain and Morocco were in an intercontinental play-off during qualification for the 1962 World Cup. La Roja progressed to the tournament in Chile after a 4-2 aggregate victory.
· The first fixture between Spain and Morocco came in the aforementioned World Cup qualifying play-off first leg, in Casablanca on 12 November 1961. Spain won 1-0 with a goal by Luis del Sol. The second leg was played 11 days later at Bernabéu in Madrid. The hosts won 3-2 with goals by Marcelino, Alfredo di Stéfano and Enrique Collar. Sellam Riahi and Abdallah Ben Barek scored for the visitors.
· All five of Spain's World Cup matches against CAF opposition have come in the group stage. They recorded victories versus Algeria (3-0 in Monterrey in 1986), South Africa (3-2 in Daejeon in 2002), Tunisia (3-1 in Stuttgart in 2006), a defeat against Nigeria (3-2 in Nantes in 1998) and a draw against Morocco (2-2 in Kalingrad in 2018).
· Club teammates who could be in opposition are Hakim Ziyech and César Azpilicueta (Chelsea), and Achraf Hakimi and Carlos Soler/Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain).
Courtesy of Gracenote
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