The “Atlas Lions” Roar Against Football Superpowers’ Hegemony
Three of the four Moroccan penalty executors did their job perfectly, while their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou blocked the opponents’ two shots and saw another hit the goalpost.
By
M YUNIADHI AGUNG AND M IKHSAN MAHAR from Doha, Qatar
·3 minutes read
AFP/ODD ANDERSEN
Morocco players celebrate after they won on penalty shoot-out the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022.
DOHA, KOMPAS — Shouldering Arab and Africa’s hopes did not overwhelm Morocco in the face of former world-champion Spain in a round of 16 matches at the Education City Stadium, Doha, on Tuesday (6/12/2022). The Atlas Lions successfully held off Spain's barrage of attacks to keep the score 0-0 in normal and extra time for 120 minutes before snatching a ticket to the quarterfinals by winning 3-0 on penalty shootouts.
Three of the four Moroccan penalty executors -- Abdelhamid Sabiri, Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi -- did their job perfectly, while their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou blocked the opponents’ two shots and saw another hit the goalpost.
The three Spanish villains on the penalty box were Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and team-skipper Sergio Busquets. Morocco will now face Portugal in the quarterfinals, following the latter’s 6-1 thumping of Switzerland in the last 16-stage match later in the day at the Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar.
Appearing in the last-eight of the World Cup is a step up from Mexico 1986, which had been the Atlas Lions’ best achievement before Qatar 2022. Becoming one of the top-eight teams at a World Cup, they have also equaled the achievements of three previous African teams, namely Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana.
Given the other quarterfinalists, Morocco is poised to challenge the hegemony of Europe and South America, which are home to world-football superpowers. The Atlas Lions are the only team outside the two regions in the eight-strong quarterfinals at Qatar 2022.
AP PHOTO/JULIO CORTEZ
Spain's Jordi Alba, left, is fouled by Morocco's Hakim Ziyech during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.
Morocco had looked determined to fulfill its ambition of qualifying for the last-eight of the World Cup for the first time. Against Spain, coach Walid Reragui employed a similar tactic that proved effective in holding off Croatia and Belgium in the group stage. They relied on fast transition between defending and attacking in a 4-5-1 formation.
Kompas’ M Ikhsan Mahar reported from Doha the Atlas Lions did not let themselves be caught off guard especially when they suffered Spain’s barrage of offensives almost throughout the game. Spain's dominance of the game was evident, with it enjoying 75 percent of ball possession, compared to Morocco's 25 percent.
The Spanish defense, led by Manchester City duo Rodri and Aymeric Laporte, was too strong a fortress for Ziyech and teammates to penetrate. Even so, they still managed to create some clear-cut opportunities by means of long crosses and passes.
Morocco produced five shots to the goal, two of which were on target. Their best chance came in the 103rd minute when substitute-striker Walid Cheddira broke into the Spanish box, but his shot from a close range was snuffed out by goalkeeper Unai Simon.
For Spain, the loss to Morocco has completed the on-penalty collapses in three successive major tournaments. They fell to host Russia in the 2018 World Cup and Italy in the semifinals of the 2020 European Cup.
Since winning the 2010 World Cup, Spain has not been able to go beyond the round of 16. “La Furia Roja” fell in the group stage at Brazil 2014 and Russia in 2018.
