No one scores a goal in Qatar against Morocco, which made history and is the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal. Portugal also tried the same bitter medicine as Croatia, Belgium and Spain, unable to pierce Bono's goal. The 'Lions of the Atlas' have only conceded a little in this World Cup, and it was an own goal by Aguerd in their victory against Canada (2-1) in the group stage.
Portugal ended desperate. After a more or less level first half that ended with a goal from Sevilla's En Nesyri in the 42nd minute from a header after taking advantage of a bad start by Diogo Costa, the second half was an incessant harassment of Portugal against a team that put a bus before Bono.
The bet of Walid Regragui's team, who took command of the team three months ago, was not exactly because of the 'beautiful game' but no one can deny its effectiveness. With very physical players who don't spare a run, they entrenched themselves in the back, lost a lot of time, made as many fouls as they could within the limit of the regulation and managed very well to short-circuit the game of a Portugal that lacked finesse and resources. It was not the afternoon of Bruno Fernandes or Bernardo Silva. There was no game between the lines or overflows by the band.
Fernando Santos brought out the eleven that had swept Switzerland in the round of 16, with Gonçalo Ramos as nine and Cristiano on the bench. Cristiano came out five minutes into the second half and Portugal ended up throwing crosses into the pot with Pepe as an impromptu center forward, the last resort for desperate teams.
If Spain against Morocco only kicked once on goal in the entire game, the North African defense was practically as effective. In the entire second half, Portugal only compromised Bono twice. The first was in a jump rope by João Félix that forced the Sevilla goalkeeper to fly, one of the stops in the championship. The second was one against which Cristiano finished inaccurately, a shot to Bono's body. Cristiano no longer has the speed of before.
In the eight minutes of extra time, Morocco's second goal was closer, which could have come from a manual counter wasted by Aboukhal with an innocent shot. The last chance of the game was a header from Pepe that brushed the post. A tremendous scare for Morocco. Cristiano entered his dressing room crying. Also for him the dream of winning a World Cup ends. A few are already like this.
