Morocco make soccer history, Ronaldo exits
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Africa finally has a team in the World Cup semi-finals – and so does the Arab world.
Morocco delivered a seminal moment in the nearly 100-year history of soccer’s biggest tournament, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team 1-0 on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) in yet another shocking result in the first World Cup staged in the Middle East.
While a tearful Ronaldo headed right down the tunnel — and maybe into international retirement — afterwards, Morocco’s players tossed their coach in the air and waved their country’s flag as they linked arms in front of celebrating fans.
“Pinch me, I’m dreaming,” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou said.
“Morocco are ready to face anyone in the world. We have changed the mentality of the generation coming after us. They’ll know Moroccan players can create miracles.”
Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winner in the 42nd minute to continue an improbable run that has generated an outpouring of pride in the Arab world, inspiring displays in Arab identity from fans in different countries.
Africa is also rejoicing. Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all reached the quarter-finals but got no further.
Morocco have broken through, setting up a semi-final against defending champions France after Les Bleus recorded a 2-1 win over England.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo, one of soccer’s greatest players but now a fading force, didn’t start for the second straight game and came on as a substitute in the 51st minute. He missed his only chance to equalise in added time.
The five-time world player of the year is set to finish his career without capturing the World Cup, without ever scoring in the knock-out stages nor ever getting to the final.
He walked right off the field after the final whistle, only briefly stopped by two Morocco players wishing to shake his hand and a spectator who confronted him near the entrance to the tunnel, and was crying as he headed to the locker room.
If this is the end for Ronaldo at international level, he’ll finish with 118 goals — a record in men’s soccer — and a European Championship title but not soccer’s biggest prize. He only got as far as the semi-finals, in 2006.
“Our players are distressed,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who shrugged off questions about his own future and added that he didn’t regret not starting Ronaldo.
“Cristiano is a great player and he came on when we thought it was necessary. But no, no regrets.”
There’s no reason why this Morocco squad — coached by French-born Walid Regragui and containing 14 players born abroad — cannot go all the way to the title.
“Why shouldn’t we dream of winning the World Cup?” Regragui said.
“If you don’t dream, you don’t get anywhere. It doesn’t cost you to dream.”
Morocco’s defence haven’t yet conceded a goal to an opposition player at this year’s World Cup — the only one they allowed was an own-goal.
In a game played to the backdrop of non-stop whistles and jeers by Morocco’s passionate fans, the team relied almost exclusively on counter-attacks and scored from one of them.
A cross was swung in from the left and En-Nesyri leapt between Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias to head into the empty net.
Ronaldo, who will be 41 by the time of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, barely got a touch of the ball until his stoppage-time effort.
“I was afraid he might play,” Regragui said of Ronaldo, “because I know he can score out of nothing.”
Substitute Walid Cheddira was shown a red card for Morocco early in added time for collecting a second yellow card in as many minutes.
While Lionel Messi will be in the semi-finals with Argentina, Ronaldo, the other soccer great of this generation won’t be.
AP
