Morocco eliminates Portugal and makes history by becoming the first African country to reach the World Cup semis

En-Nesyri's goal on the verge of half-time was enough for Walid Regragui's team to sign another page of legend in the World Cup.

For their part, France left England, another title contender, in their wake.

Of the four semi-finalists, two are from the last World Cup final.

Morocco made history and eliminated Portugal from the World Cup.

Completely broken and sunk. This is how Cristiano Ronaldo left the Al Thumama Stadium. He was the living reflection of defeat and frustration. Portugal, who were already dreaming of meeting France or England in the semifinals of the World Cup, succumbed to Morocco, the great revelation of the tournament being played in Qatar. [Narration and statistics: Morocco 1-0 Portugal].

En-Nesyri's header on the verge of half-time, the most important goal of his career and the most valuable in the history of Moroccan soccer, served to topple another of the great favorites to lift the title. Fernando Santos' team suffered the same fate as Spain and Belgium before them. Another great team knocked down by the heroic army of Walid Regragui, a team that has already earned all the adjectives there are.

Portugal played better and planned the game better than Spain did. But Morocco also had a somewhat different plan. A tight defense with few cracks, but an attack more protagonist and much more incisive. It was a match of chances, of vibrant soccer and one of those that will be remembered forever. However, Bono managed to stop everything and Diogo Costa failed in the moment of truth. His bad start in the North African goal caused Portugal to see its adventure in Qatar come to an end. 

Cristiano Ronaldo already knows he can never win a World Cup. His last chance has gone into limbo as the dream of Fernando Santos and all his players to complete the triple crown after the European Championship and the UEFA Nations League. The Portuguese striker had a great chance in the 92nd minute, but came up against Bono's gloves. Shortly after, Pepe headed wide. At that moment, a country's destiny was sealed.

Morocco, for their part, continue to make history and are now the first African country to make it into the world's top four. Now, let the next one go through, as Regragui's team wants to continue to break all records. They have proven to be a hard-working team and in just three months, since the coach arrived on the bench, they have completely turned around a locker room that was in the doldrums and is now looking closer to the glitter of the World Cup. The final is just one step away. 

Many believed that the Al Thumama Stadium would be the end of the road for the legendary Moroccan team. After completing the feat of reaching the quarter-finals, the goal was more than achieved for them. Now it was Portugal's turn, a serious team that was not going to play a boring and inoffensive soccer like the one played by the team coached by Luis Enrique. 

With that ambition, Fernando Santos' team, who once again dispensed with Ronaldo in the starting eleven, came out to dominate from the start. The first chance of the match was not long in coming. A lateral free kick into the area in the 4th minute and Joao Felix's shot was saved with an exceptional intervention by Bono. Portugal were in earnest, but so were Morocco. Regragui's team responded quickly with a header, also from En-Nesyri, who began to take distance. 

The Portuguese team became the master of the match. They took possession of the ball and began to move it from one flank to the other, looking for ways to break down Bono's wall. In addition, they exerted a strong pressure in the opposing field to steal quickly and build very direct actions. The plan was to overwhelm. However, Morocco, whenever they could, were able to counter-attack, adding vertigo to every action. Ziyech's role was gradually growing and En-Nesyri had another header that came close to scoring. The first half hour was a total equality. 

In the final stretch of the first half came the most important chances. First Joao Félix, who finished off a cross from Raphael Guerreiro from the edge of the area. And shortly after, Regragui's team responded with a shot by Amallah from inside the right after a low cross by Attiat Allah. 

However, just when it looked like it was going to be a draw at half-time, madness struck. Attiat Allah's cross again from the left flank and En-Nesyri, with a leap in the purest Cristiano Ronaldo style, sent it into the cage. Diogo Costa's failure to come out was truly rude and left the goal on a plate for the Sevilla striker to put his side ahead in the 42nd minute. 

The game went crazy in the final moments of the first half. Portugal responded to Morocco's goal with their best chance, a volley from the right flank by Bruno Fernandes that surprised Bono and crashed against the crossbar. The Manchester United player almost scored the goal of the World Cup. 

Portugal went all out and first Otavio and then Bruno Fernandes called for two possible penalties on Achraf Hakimi, but neither the referee nor the VAR saw anything punishable in both actions. The first half ended with a new warning from Morocco, who could have scored the second after Attiat Allah's shot from inside the box went straight out from the left flank.

The second half also started in an intense manner. While Cristiano Ronaldo was warming up on the sideline, Diogo Costa redeemed himself for his mistake and saved Portugal. A free kick taken by Ziyech from the right flank was saved by Diogo Costa with an action of great reflexes. It was the warning that Fernando Santos needed to introduce the first changes, including the departure of 'CR7'. 

From then on, Portugal had their best minutes, managing to trap Morocco in their own area and looking for the goal by land, sea and air. The first good opportunity was for Gonçalo Ramos, who headed a ball straight out from inside the area when he had everything in his favor. After this first warning came the second a few minutes later. Bruno Fernades shot from outside the area, but his shot with a dry instep went just inches over the crossbar. 

Regragui moved his bench to give oxygen to his men as he was losing players. First Saiss and then Ziyech were injured as a result of the effort. But they continued to resist with an immeasurable Bono. In the final stretch of normal time, the Sevilla goalkeeper appeared once again. He made an incredible flight to stop a shot by Joao Félix that was going into the corner of the net. Ricardo Horta looked for Ronaldo in the area, who left it in front of the Atleti star to test one of the best goalkeepers of the World Cup. 

With that chance, Portugal went into stoppage time with two more close calls. The first came after a deep pass from Bruno Fernandes to Cristiano Ronaldo. The striker won the back of the Moroccan defense and shot from the right side of the area, but Bono responded again with a colossal intervention. 

Morocco were down to one man in the closing stages after Cheddira was sent off for a double yellow card. The striker, who came on in the second half, slapped Pepe in the face and ankle-planked Joao Felix in a matter of minutes and was sent off. Meanwhile, Portugal were hanging balls in desperation and so came the last chance. A cross from the left and Pepe, at the far post and in front of goal, shot but missed the target by just a few centimeters, ending Portugal's road to Qatar.

At the final whistle, Ronaldo burst into tears and left the field, unable to bear the cruelty with which he was saying goodbye to the World Cup forever. His image contrasted with the happiness of an entire country that continues to make history in Qatar. 

France eliminated England and will face Morocco. 

 The reigning champions beat the Anglo-Saxon team 2-1. Didier Despchamps' team made the difference with a shot by Aurélien Tchouaméni and a header by Oliver Giroud at 17 and 32 minutes of each half. Harry Kane scored the equalizer from the penalty spot.

Reigning champions France eliminated England, one of the main contenders in Qatar 2022, by defeating them 2-1 in a quarterfinal match that left them two steps away from renewing the world crown obtained in Russia 2018.

In a game of chances, with no clear dominator, Didier Deschamps' team made the difference with a shot by Aurélien Tchouaméni and a header by Olivier Giroud at 17 and 32 minutes of each half.

The English equalized at the 9th minute of the second half through Harry Kane's penalty, but wasted an identical situation at the 39th minute with another shot by the captain over the crossbar.

France will play in the semifinals against the surprise of the competition, Morocco, who on Saturday eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in another quarterfinal. The French team continues its quest for a second consecutive championship that only Italy (1934-1938) and Brazil (1958-1962) have achieved in history.

England, accompanied from the box by former captain Davic Beckham, suffered a new disappointment in the cycle of coach Gareth Southgate, after losing the final of Euro 2021 against Italy at Wembley.

The match on a cool Qatari night was played at the Al Bayt stadium, which according to the organizers was sold out (68,895 people) despite the fact that it started with clearings in the stands.

FIFA paid tribute to U.S. journalist Grant Wahl, who died on Friday of a heart attack during the Argentina-Netherlands match. A bouquet of flowers and a monitor with his photograph were placed at his stand in the press box.

Until the first goal of the match, France had a more fluid game, with good gravitation on the wings from the meeting of Koundé-Dembelé on the right and Theo Hernandez-Mbappé on the left.

After a warning from Giroud, which ended with a header into the hands of Pickford, "Les Bleus" got the opening in an associative play of pendulum course, which Tchouaméni finished in the center with a corner kick.

The young No. 8 also formed a good tandem in the middle with Rabiot, who was effective in anticipation, and Griezmann, who was dedicated to joining in the flow of play in all areas of the pitch.

England offered the same as always: Rice's tidiness, Henderson's aggressiveness, Bukayo Saya's skill and Kane's good movements, who had chances to equalize after the 1-0.

The growth that the British team showed from then on was confirmed at the start of the second half with a deeper and wider attack that opened the way to France's goal.

Lloris had to do his best to deflect Bellingham's volley from just outside the box and then Saka, with a devilish run, earned the penalty kick from Tchouaméni, which was scored by Kane.

he match gained maximum intensity due to France's reaction and England's conviction not to settle. After 11 minutes, Mbappé made an electric run down the left that ended in a low cross to the penalty spot and Saka replied with another line-breaking attempt in the penalty area.

The British, in a dominant position, added a Maguire header and a lunge by Saka, assisted from the left by Shaw. France forced a phenomenal save from Pickford from Giroud's volley inside the box and immediately scored the second with a header from the 9th, after a cross and assist from Griezmann.

Southgate renewed his attack in search of an equalizer and his team had a great chance with another penalty that the Brazilian Wilton Sampaio, called to the screen by the Colombian Nicolas Gallo, sanctioned for a charge by Hernandez on substitute Mount.

However, Kane deflected his right-footed shot and left the team from La Rosa very close to elimination, due to the short time margin. The last chance came from a Rashford free kick before the Brazilian sealed the win for the reigning champions.