Unai Simon rules the air
On a cross from Mazraoui on the left, Unai Simon won in front of Ziyech. Second alarm on the Spanish cages as the Atlas Lions also try to end the encounter.
Bounou plays with fire
On a retreat from Hakimi, Bounou does not lose his composure under pressure from Asensio. A little hook on the Madrid playmaker, it calms everyone in the Moroccan side.
It goes over the top for Hakimi
If he can’t do it at PSG, Hakimi will take the free kicks with Morocco. The right side intercepts a shot a little too powerful to worry Unai Simon. It leaks from the frame.
The first spark of Boufal
The Angers winger is very restless at the start of the match. As soon as he took the ball, he accelerated and approached the last Spanish meters. Gavi makes a foul, the referee doesn’t budge. Good free kick to negotiate for Morocco.
The Spanish strikers pick up
When Asensio was preferred to Morata, Luis Enrique made the choice to play with an extra ball handler. In a thankless role, the attacking midfielder from Real Madrid is already picking up between the circles to come and take his first balloons of the game.
Morocco will have to make good use of their cartridges
The Atlas Lions will need to rely on quick recoveries to try and bring danger into the Spanish area. Ziyech is launched for the first time, but the Moroccan winger presses his ball a little too much.
Spain confiscates the ball
From the first minutes, the Spaniards already put their foot on the ball. La Roja are waiting for the Moroccan block to make a mistake to exploit the spaces.
En-Neysri marking on Busquets
Morocco’s first tactical intentions are already taking shape. En-Neysri tramples Sergio Busquets. We know that if the Barça midfielder is deprived of the ball, it will be difficult for Spain to put their game in place.
The Spaniards take a stand
Luis Enrique’s team takes their place very high on the pitch. La Roja does not want to exclude the Moroccans.
Ziyech is already setting the tone
Barely thirty seconds played and already a first buffer from Ziyech on Alba. The referee tells the Moroccan winger to be alert.
Let’s go !
Kick off is given by referee Fernando Rapallini. The Spanish are the ones hiring!
Space for hymns
The 22 actors entered the lawn of Al Thumama Stadium. Place now for hymns, beginning with Morocco’s. Moroccan supporters are already boiling.
Busquets joins a very closed circle
Holding this afternoon, Sergio Busquets will play his 17th game in the World Cup with Spain. That is as much as Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, the two most played players in La Roja’s history in the competition.
The Moroccan Federation in support of its supporters
The International Football Association (FIFA) has announced that it has made a warehouse of 5,000 seats available for supporters. An initiative carried out at the request of the Moroccan Football Federation.
Since the start of the competition, the Atlas Lions have become accustomed to being able to count on massive support from their supporters, who are present in large numbers in Qatar.
Regragui does not want to be intimidated by Spain
Ahead of the World Cup round of 16 against Spain, Morocco coach Walid Regragui believed in his side’s chances, despite La Roja’s strong possession style of play.
“Spain is one of the best teams in the world because they know what they offer and are patient with what they offer, analyzed Walid Regragui Monday at a press conference. They have a possession that hurts the opposition and even the public. Rodri, Laporte-Alba, Alba-Laporte, Rodri-Busquets, Busquets-Rodri, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you… Until at some point the players started to get tired. If we are strong in our heads and we accept that they want the ball…”
The Emir of Qatar with Morocco’s flag before kick-off
It’s busy at Al Thumama Stadium. Present in the buckles, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was seen with Morocco’s flag. Scene of communion with the Moroccan followers present.
36 years later, Morocco returns to the round of 16
Morocco is playing in the last 16 of a World Cup for the first time since 1986. It is the first time in 36 years that the Atlas Lions have qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup.
On which channel should you watch the match?
Morocco-Spain will be broadcast exclusively on BeIn Sport. It is also to follow on the antenna of RMC, official radio of the World Cup.
And here is the composition of Spain
Asensio and Ferran start in attack, not Morata. the real surprise is Llorente, who is in the right-back position.
Title 11:
Unai Simon
Llorente Rodri Laporte Alba
Gavi Busquets Pedri
Ferran Asensio Olmo
Morocco’s composition has declined
And despite back pain, Amrabat is a good starter. In attack, Ziyech and Boufal hit En-Nesyri
Bounou
Hakimi Aguerd Saïss Mazraoui
Ounahi Amrabat Amallah
Ziyech En-Nesyri Boufal
Hello and welcome to this live
It is one of the round of 16 that smells the most of powder between Morocco, a surprise team from this World Cup, who came out on top of their pool, which nevertheless included Belgium and Croatia, and Spain, who tumbled to second place in its group in a rather incredible final, although the Spanish players denied having deliberately avoided a potential quarter-final against Brazil.
But before thinking about the quarter, there is a round of 16 to play and it would be very presumptuous to think that it is won in advance. On the Moroccan side, coach Walid Regragui assumes his team will not have possession, but he has not given up on making a move, far from it.
The composition of this shock will be communicated around 14.30, kick-off at 16.00 on BeIN Sport and will be followed live with commentary on the RMC Sport site and app.