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Transcript
00:00Here we are live at the Alfamama Stadium, all set and ready for Morocco versus Portugal.
00:12Now I've actually just heard reports from Angus Scott who's outside the stadium. He
00:16informs us that there are hundreds of ticketless fans trying to get into the stadium as we
00:21speak right now, which means that people with tickets are struggling to get in. So if you
00:25see shots of empty seats, it's because of that, because normally we would expect a full
00:31house by now, wouldn't we Nigel?
00:32Oh yeah, definitely. If you look around here and you look in the back of you, there's a
00:35lot of empty seats left. So if that's the main issue, let's hope that the fans that
00:39they have a ticket, sort it out quickly and then they can enjoy the game as well.
00:43Exactly. And there's so many people looking forward to this game because we know that
00:47Morocco's success has galvanised this region, hasn't it?
00:50Yeah, definitely. I think most of the Arab region and the African countries are cheering
00:55for Morocco. I just want it to have a great game. I just want them to have success with
01:02what they're doing.
01:03Well, if yesterday's anything to go by, this is a very tough one to predict. Is it not, Greg?
01:07Yeah, I think we can predict how the game will go. I think you'll see Portugal with
01:11most of the ball, Portugal on the front foot being threatening. Morocco won't change the
01:18game plan. Like everyone else who plays against Spain, you spend a great deal of time without
01:23the ball. You know, Spain keep the ball better than anyone else or anyone else that's been
01:27in this tournament. And I just see it being the same. I think Morocco against Spain were
01:32exceptionally disciplined, road to luck at times, but Spain didn't have any strikers.
01:37This Portuguese team have strikers.
01:39Well, Morocco are hoping to make history. Portugal are hoping to repeat history. Who
01:45makes it to this year's semi-final? Let's hand you over to your commentators, Ali McGoist
01:52and John Champion.
01:53Thank you, Seema. Good afternoon, everyone. So it is the day when we find out if, as Pelé
02:00suggested nearly half a century ago, the axis of world football is ready to tilt in the
02:07direction of Africa. We've been here before, of course, with Cameroon in 1990, Senegal
02:142002 and Ghana in 2010. But here at Altumama, shaped like a traditional Qatari hat on the
02:21edge of the Doha desert. The difference this time is that Morocco represent not just a
02:27continent, but the Arab world, too. So many nations who in everyday life may have their
02:35differences, but where football is concerned, they feel able to coalesce around a common
02:41cause. The overwhelming majority of the support here is for Morocco, leaving Portugal in the
02:48role of isolated strangers in what must feel like a very foreign land.
02:55Your Highnesses, your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, please rise if you are able
03:08for the playing of the national anthem of Morocco.
03:13Your Highnesses, your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, please rise if you are able
03:20for the playing of the national anthem of Morocco.
03:43Your Highnesses, your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, please rise if you are able
04:03for the playing of the national anthem of Morocco.
04:33And now, please remain standing for the playing of the national anthem of Portugal.
05:03Your Highnesses, your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, please rise if you are able
05:32for the playing of the national anthem of Portugal.
05:55We may get to see history, we'll almost certainly witness hysteria. And the curtain goes up next.
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07:14The eighth and last match to be played at Al-Tumama, where Morocco have already beaten Belgium and Canada,
07:26and now have their sights set on Portugal.
07:30For Morocco today, two changes to the side that went the distance with Spain.
07:34West Ham defender Aguerd is injured, so El Yamik emerges from the shadows.
07:39Roman Saïs finished that game on Tuesday limping because of a hamstring problem, but he plays.
07:44Atiyet Alar is in for Mazraoui at left back.
07:50Fresh from last night's record number of yellow cards generated by Argentina and the Netherlands.
07:54You may not have seen anything yet. Today's referee is from Argentina.
07:58Facundo Teo brandished ten red cards in a domestic game only last month.
08:06The big question coming to the ground today. Would he? Wouldn't he?
08:10There's your answer. Again, no Ronaldo in the Portuguese starting eleven.
08:17And how could there be after Gonzalo Ramos stole the show against the Swiss?
08:22In the end, one alteration. Ruben Neves returns to the midfield instead of William Carvalho.
08:27Dalot again preferred to Cancelo.
08:30He made his professional debut when the new hero Ramos was a mere five months old.
08:42Still problems getting spectators into the ground.
08:44The stadium is perhaps half full, maybe a little more, but not much more than that.
08:51Stories abounding of ticketless fans getting in the way of ticket holders getting into the arena.
08:57And that is an ongoing problem, we are led to believe.
09:02No doubt the coolest day of this World Cup meteorologically.
09:05Nowhere near the snow of the UK, of course, but as cold as it gets, 21 degrees Celsius.
09:11Police on traffic duty outside the stadium were shivering as we arrived.
09:17So Morocco in their normal red and green.
09:21Portugal designated as the away team forced to change their regular colours.
09:25Morocco the fourth African team to play in a World Cup quarterfinal.
09:30Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana have all threatened to smash through the ceiling.
09:34None of them have ever quite managed it, but their efforts have become the stuff of legend.
09:40Portugal aiming to reach what would be a third World Cup semifinal on a day, Ali,
09:45of course, when it sounds and feels more like Casablanca than Qatar.
09:49It certainly does, John, that's for sure.
09:51Good afternoon, everyone. Really looking forward to this.
09:54Spot on, it could be Marrakesh or wherever you like, Casablanca.
09:58They are out in serious numbers, the Morocco fans.
10:02Been really tight defensively against a free-flowing and high-scoring Portugal.
10:08I've been really looking forward to it, John, very much so.
10:11Great game today.
10:13North of Karel, it's known as the big one.
10:16In the sweep, I have rather more than 30 seconds before you get that in.
10:27Morocco are the rank outsiders of the six teams remaining.
10:30You could get 40-1 on them.
10:32Actually lifting the World Cup just before kick-off.
10:39They've grown into this tournament.
10:41They are the misers of the World Cup.
10:43Four games to produce just five goals.
10:45They've got the best defence, putting in just one own goal.
10:50Portugal have the joint most potent attack along with England.
10:53They scored 12.
10:57Yeah, you would think something's got to give this afternoon, John.
11:01It's quite remarkable, their record defensively.
11:03Morocco, you touched on it there, also taking the luck back a little bit further.
11:07Seven clean sheets in the last eight games.
11:10Missing the centre-back, though.
11:12You see how much of a blow that will be to them.
11:15And also keeping a close eye on the walking wounded.
11:18Saïd's heavily strapped in the warm-up after twitching his hamstring the other day.
11:21And two of the three central midfielders significantly bandaged in the warm-up as well
11:26with what looked like knee problems.
11:28It's the old-school Saïd, isn't it?
11:33There's no way that Aguero was going to make it.
11:35He pulled up with a groin injury.
11:39In the midst of that dramatic game against Spain.
11:48Yeah, it was a quite unbelievable game that, John.
11:51I couldn't believe a couple of things.
11:53I certainly couldn't believe how poor the Spanish penalties were.
11:57And defensively, you touched on it, Morocco were excellent.
12:01They only conceded and gave up one shot on target,
12:04which, against a Spanish side that controlled the ball as much, was remarkable.
12:09However, I do think, prior to this game, having a chat with yourself about it,
12:13I just think Portugal do have slightly more in forward areas than Spain, believe it or not.
12:19And you mentioned it before the game, the young fella Gonzalo Ramos,
12:23he couldn't have wished for a better opening game.
12:28Here's Ruben Diaz.
12:31There's another side to the story.
12:33Amidst all the potential for history, there is another tale ready to unfold.
12:37That of Portugal.
12:41Dispensed with their leading man, and in so doing, apparently made the ensemble cast rather stronger.
12:48Alar flying in.
12:49Yeah, he just lets the ball over him.
12:53Alar catches, he lifts his undercarriage, doesn't catch him.
12:56Three-kick all the same.
12:59And then Greg Ruggie, whose stock has risen considerably over the course of the last three weeks.
13:04Parachuted in three and a half months ago, when the Bosnian Halil Hodzic was sacked.
13:12In early, towards the diving figure of João Felix.
13:16Morocco are looking across towards the linesman, who signals for a corner.
13:20Yeah, he wasn't having any of it.
13:23I don't think he was offside, actually.
13:25I think Diaz at the back post might have been offside.
13:27I don't know, he's probably just got that one right.
13:30Comfortable, Seed.
13:41Bruno Fernandes will take it.
13:44It's beyond the tete.
13:58Good ball in.
13:59The header's OK, but it's comfortable.
14:02Too near the goalkeeper, just pushes it away.
14:07Yeah, you'd want him to save that.
14:18The involvement in FIFA's World Cup finals has usually ended with quite a hard luck story.
14:28Morocco intend to be different, and this is Ati Atala.
14:33Showing that spirit of enterprise that they are willing to display on the counter,
14:37but that is their way of doing things.
14:39Yeah, superb defend, and it's a lovely move, lovely giving goal.
14:43Ati Atala keeps going, he gets in behind the defence,
14:45but I think as Dalot comes back, shows great pace, great acceleration to concede the corner.
14:52But an early warning for the Portuguese, I don't think they're going to have it all the wrong way, John.
14:57Five inside the penalty area for Morocco.
15:10And the header back in the Serie A.
15:14I think that's a chance, you know, and I think he knows it.
15:18Great out-swinging delivery, up he goes.
15:22The very least he should be doing there is hitting the target.
15:25The direction of the header is perfect, back where it came from.
15:29Got to be lower.
15:31Big chance.
15:34Bernardo Silva.
15:42Ruben Neves restored today in place of William Carvalho.
15:51Did that surprise you?
15:53He had started the three previous games.
15:55Yeah, I just thought, I don't know if I'm speaking about it before,
15:58I just thought he was a little bit more attack-minded than Carvalho,
16:01and maybe that's what Fernando Santos is going for.
16:06He's reasoning behind it.
16:23I'm hearing all these stories about people struggling to get in the stadium.
16:27There is no evidence of any sort of rush towards the empty seats.
16:34So if people are getting in, they're getting in very slowly.
16:42The television pictures during this tournament have generally been skillfully framed.
16:48There's no hiding the gaps here for the time being.
16:52Dante.
17:16Quite a cross-field pass for Xiao Felix.
17:19What a switcher play that was.
17:21Oh, terrific pass.
17:27It's a poor touch, actually.
17:35Bernardo Silva.
17:51Quite amazing, really.
17:52Do you want to think this is Portugal's youngest ever starting line-up
17:56at a World Cup game, and Pepe's in the side.
18:00To an arm and shoulder of his 40th birthday.
18:08It's a great get rid of the young backs that have caught the eye in this tournament.
18:11Yeah, it has.
18:20Santos, who made one of the biggest calls of his long career four nights ago.
18:36How he paid dividends.
18:37Could not have worked out any better for him.
18:43Believe me.
18:44He usually looks really pleased about it.
18:47He should perhaps let his face know, but it certainly couldn't have gone any better.
18:54Xiao Felix.
18:59Unai.
19:09Yeah, they're really going after him.
19:10You can see lovely football with Portugal using an afternoon right across.
19:14And it worked out very well.
19:30So is this the pattern set?
19:31I think so.
19:32Yeah.
19:33I mean, to be fair, Portugal gave the ball away in a high area,
19:36and they went after it.
19:37Four or five of them on the high press.
19:40Morocco were excellent.
19:41Go to the other side.
19:43And look to hit them on a counter.
19:45And I think that will be very much how the game is played out.
19:49Possibly will change if and when there's a goal.
20:07We haven't yet seen Ali in this tournament.
20:09It's what happens when Morocco go behind.
20:11That's true.
20:13That's very true.
20:19I'll tell you who's going to be key for Morocco tonight as well.
20:22It's Sofiane Amrabat right in front of the two centre-backs at number four.
20:28He just patrols everything.
20:30There he goes.
20:31He'll get run about.
20:32Gyal Felix.
20:34When the Portuguese lads come off,
20:36the front-line he'll be the one that they pass them on to.
20:43Otavio.
20:48Kete.
20:56Again, Otavio.
21:03The rival of Amrabat.
21:07I don't know what he's complaining about.
21:15A couple of times against the Swiss,
21:16the aerial threat, particularly of Kete, was evident.
21:32The scene is Bruno Fernandes.
21:37That was Ruben Neves.
21:40That is Guerrero.
21:43Ruben Dias.
21:47Kete.
21:49That's down to Amelard.
21:58Goal kick.
22:01Yeah, good feed, kick, set, play.
22:04Joachim just blocks it.
22:05This is a good strike, actually.
22:06It comes out to Guerrero.
22:08Keeps it down well.
22:10Low and hard.
22:11Attempted flick there.
22:16It's actually been a bright start to the game for both teams.
22:19After ten or so minutes.
22:24It's the measure of Morocco's achievement thus far in this World Cup
22:27that they've won as many games here as in their previous five tournaments combined.
22:33Kete not having won a World Cup game since 1998.
22:40I thought he earned a free kick there, actually.
22:53Very direct.
22:54Amelard.
22:56He just thought he did enough to earn a free kick.
22:58The referee thought otherwise.
23:04Bernardo Silva.
23:11Bruno Fernandes.
23:14Casual swing of the right boot this time.
23:18Fractionally inaccurate.
23:20Yeah.
23:21It's interesting, John, looking at the game.
23:24Tactically.
23:26When boys like Felix, Gal Felix and Fernandes and Silva play in a central role,
23:31it keeps the two full backs from Morocco in tight.
23:35And that's when Dalot and Guerrero push up.
23:38Looking for a switch of play.
24:01Kete.
24:17Kete.
24:21A third World Cup quarterfinal.
24:23They've won their previous two.
24:26Both fairly dramatically.
24:28It's Guerrero.
24:32Yeah.
24:33They'll be key this year for Portugal.
24:35The two right full backs.
24:36Definitely.
24:41A great finish, actually, against the Swiss.
24:44Lovely goal.
25:02Go, go, go!
25:09This is Guerrero.
25:20Kete.
25:27Otavio.
25:29Almost for Gonzalo Ramos.
25:33Gave him a wee nudge, didn't he?
25:39A little bit concerning there.
25:40El Yamik stepping out.
25:44Playing him onside.
25:48I haven't told anyone that would listen definitively that this had
25:52the smallest chance of any of the quarterfinals of going to extra time and penalties.
25:56So at some stage, it's going to have to open up.
26:01Portugal bossing the ball.
26:0375 per cent possession.
26:05Looks like there's any surprise here.
26:07That's a lovely goal.
26:08Hakimi.
26:25Ruben Neves.
26:46Ruben Neves.
26:48Xiao Felix.
26:52Unahi from Morocco.
26:56Now Hakim Ziyech.
27:03I think we can allow him that.
27:05First time he's received the ball in a wider area.
27:08Cuts inside.
27:10Always fancied it.
27:16Not his best effort.
27:18Keeping up to date with the influx of spectators.
27:21It's as if someone has found the keys to another couple of gates.
27:24Yeah.
27:26Significantly fuller than it was even five minutes ago.
27:29You joined us late.
27:31You may not have heard reporting from our own Angus Scott of issues
27:34outside the ground caused by ticketless fans getting in the way of
27:37those with tickets.
27:39Unable to gain access.
27:41Ruben Diaz.
28:00Pepe.
28:10Delo.
28:24Back was Bufal.
28:26He had Allah.
28:29With inbounds and then a trick from Bufal.
28:32Brilliant, wasn't it?
28:35I mean, that was superb from.
28:37Bufal there.
28:38He's getting the crowd going as well.
28:40What a piece of skill that was.
28:45Didn't actually show you.
28:47The skill that this deserved the applause, but.
28:52Good quick feet there from Bufal.
28:54Southampton supporters will be familiar with cameo moments like that.
29:00Occasionally brilliant.
29:02I think he scored the Premier League goal of the season.
29:04Most of the length of the pitch against West Brom one day.
29:06It's Mary's.
29:09So had his hapless moments, not least when he kicked his kitchen
29:13table at home and.
29:15Broke a toe and that was about it on the south coast.
29:22Scared to ask the reason for that day assault on the table.
29:27I think more than carelessness.
29:32Allah.
29:35Bufal.
29:39Who now he.
29:48ZS.
30:02Smalls.
30:03Yes.
30:05Yeah, it was on TV from Portugal.
30:11He said, look lively.
30:13The last four or five minutes or four.
30:15So yes.
30:19Deco.
30:22I think.
30:26No.
30:35The corner.
30:42A quick thing that's changed defensively.
30:44Corner kicks.
30:47Nearly every team.
30:49Brings every player back.
30:51And most teams don't leave empty marking on posts.
30:57ZS.
31:00Bufal.
31:01By Bruno Fernandes.
31:03Yeah.
31:04Good strength.
31:05Fernandes here.
31:07Body in front.
31:32Jalvani.
31:38Lovely touch.
31:41Excellent closing down from Hakimi.
31:42Excellent closing down from Hakimi.
32:00Guerrero.
32:03And Bruno.
32:05Bruno Fernandes.
32:07The man that jumped.
32:09I think he's well entitled to go for it.
32:13He's absolutely entitled to go for it.
32:17Great delivery at the back post here, up he goes.
32:20Well within his rights.
32:23There's no elbow up, he's just taking a challenge in the ball.
32:30I think they've got more of a problem with it than I have.
32:33I don't think the goalkeeper had a particular problem.
32:35I don't think he did either.
32:36His defensive colleagues have inflamed matters a little.
32:41There was no arm coming across, no elbow up.
32:44He had enough challenge.
32:46He's shown himself to be a very accomplished goalkeeper at this World Cup.
32:49We shouldn't be surprised he won the Zamora Trophy as the best goalkeeper in the Spanish League last year.
33:06Otavio.
33:12Hakimi.
33:18It's actually quite strange seeing Hakimi playing as a pretty orthodox right back.
33:22Because if you watch some of the qualifiers against admittedly lesser opposition,
33:26he was one of the most potent attacking weapons that Morocco had.
33:30It was Kapu-esque.
33:31Yeah, absolutely.
33:32But I think that explains why they've only lost one goal in the tournament so far.
33:38Even it was their own goal, as you say.
33:41The full backs, yes, will go forward at the right time.
33:45But nothing like as often as they probably would have in qualifying games and things like that.
33:52You've got to see it defensively.
33:53They've been really good.
33:54Yeah, and there's just catches him there.
33:57Not a lot, innit?
33:59Two-kick all the same.
34:04Two-kick.
34:06Two-kick.
34:08Two-kick.
34:10Two-kick.
34:12Two-kick.
34:14Two-kick.
34:16Two-kick.
34:18Two-kick.
34:20Two-kick.
34:22Two-kick.
34:23It's been orchestrated like most the others by Hakeem Ziyech.
34:32And Missari going in!
34:37Gets across, doesn't he?
34:39He was probably just looking for a bit more pace on the ball.
34:43Ziyech puts the delivery in.
34:45Doesn't meet it at all, it comes off his left shoulder, I think.
34:50You can see it here, taking out back.
34:51up back that angle looks as though it's his head right enough but it's a poor head up
34:56i think he was probably as i say looked a little bit more pace on the ball from zh
35:03but they're slowly building their way into the game the moroccan's john
35:14they've been pretty good at building and then protecting a platform in their previous fixtures
35:24but also from what i've seen we spoke about it you know before the game
35:29having the ability to open up as a lost a goal
35:32you've got to see on the evidence we've seen yeah they probably have
35:35two defeats in three and a bit years
35:55i mean that's that's serious that's that's fantastic
36:05so
36:15so
36:32guerrero
36:35he's faced by bernardo silva who's sniffing in to win it back
36:38yeah he was in there very quick wasn't he hell you're meek ready to pass inside
37:02bruno fernandez
37:09pepe atavio
37:20so
37:33ruben neves
37:38bruno fernandez
37:39so we tried wrong option really he said just i kept it going to proven diaz
37:56they just look as though they're lacking a little bit portugal which we saw against the swiss
38:01the run through jalfelix fernandez he started up high would drop off playing little pockets
38:08turn on it not really get that going yet and a lot of that of course was down to the
38:15defensive qualities are not just the back four but the midfield of morocco as well
38:24that's a ronaldo there were you a good watcher from the bench
38:27um strange then that your nickname in the dressing room was the judge
38:36at rangers which i believe was bestowed upon you because you spent
38:39at one stage of your career so much time on the bench
38:46once they'd signed mo johnston and mark haley
38:54if you did as much homework like morocco versus portugal that would be all right
38:59uh once again factually correct john no i never doubted graham soon as
39:12guerrero ruben diaz ruben neves
39:20find atavio it falls for jalfelix
39:22it's a deflection isn't it wow completely wrong foots the goalkeeper bono
39:31not the best of defensive headers from elia meek
39:35oh that could go anywhere it really could just turns his back on it after knocking the initial
39:41header up into the air very fortunate all you make to see that go for the corner
39:57rafael guerrero
39:58he wasn't ready for it to be taken
40:08so
40:23guerrero
40:37so
40:44so
41:01okay
41:03so
41:15it's amazing they're just getting slightly frustrated i know there's only half an hour
41:19going but i mentioned before they've been looking for that crossfield pass to switch
41:24a play to the fullbacks the tallow on the right guerrero on the left and it is on
41:30but i've got to say the half an hour gone that i love the shape of the moroccans defensively
41:37they really do look difficult to break down and play through
41:43tight four defensively good you can see they've been really well drilled john
41:51fire manager who's only been at the helm for 100 days
41:53is
42:05well you can tell just one of these things you look at the side you look at them you obviously
42:09look at them when they don't have the ball which against teams like portugal and spain will be the
42:13majority of the game and they appreciate that and they know that so they're going to play to
42:18but they've got to be solid defensively
42:22and as i say with just over 30 minutes going it's been really impressive
42:47foreign
42:53akimi
42:57took a wee chance there
43:01they pay off
43:04numbers here for morocco
43:18you can't get too much on it you've just got to try and redirect that one good move down the left
43:22hand side what comes in and i'm just he's just got to try and redirect that it's very difficult
43:28a bouncing ball to meet that with pace
43:32i tell you that allah cuts it back well and it is on the rise
43:36so it's difficult one to keep down but bright play again on the left hand side
43:43just leaning back there
43:47so
44:01there's an increasing willingness to try their luck from morocco this is bufar
44:07they've got the flair players he's one of them
44:12yeah
44:13so
44:16i'm just sitting there akimi and atyatala i thought initially in the first half hour or so
44:22not so keen to get forward that's certainly changed in the last five minutes or so
44:27the reason he got that freedom there bufar was the
44:29they're on the outside i want to create the the overlap in the space
44:46they won't be overly worried portugal john but i tell you what they know they're in a game
44:50i'm gonna have to work hard to break this down
45:00so
45:02lovely from zs that's fantastic beautiful football
45:06and here's unahi who's just tucked back there will be a free kick i don't mind him john you know
45:14he can play brilliant skill on the left hand side
45:17back to him to coming at him i thought he's gonna have to throw a double six to get with that but
45:21lovely wee flick you know he's playing his couple for angers who are bottom of the french league at
45:28the moment and he came out of the french third division last year i like him i like him john
45:49now he gains another free kick
45:50so it sticks with him he's title on it as well
46:20so they're playing the most significant game in their footballing history
46:26they were the first team ever from africa to win a world cup point
46:30in 1970 the first african team to escape the group stage in 1986
46:38oh great flash that was just over hits it slightly
46:41so
46:58i'm not sure it's rule yet right enough but it's certainly larger numbers
47:01some of the local visa restrictions for presidents of other gulf states so they
47:12put in the country without a visa to come and watch the football in the closing stages of the
47:15tournament that is frustrating for bouffal in particular and morocco in general yeah it catches
47:24on but i'm not sure it's just it's just momentum taking them on the run the catches
47:30a chavio i think with a hand here there we are not an awful lot in that from before
47:38i'm not sure it wanted that reaction there
47:47xiao fenix
47:55guerrero
47:56oh first time by the silky xiao felix he knows it's a chance it's certainly a half chance
48:05he's one of the players that could have taken it takes it in the half volley just as it comes up
48:25so
48:34just over the horizon in a game that's a few third cup scoring opportunities
48:49as he stretched for the ball
48:51there was no advantage play he's in possession it's a clear free kick
49:06it's been a better world cup for the african nations in fact their best ever in terms of
49:10points one yeah it really has no no major surprises but i think it's safe to say joe morocco
49:17the the crop i think of the best of the african nations qualifying stages for the qualifying
49:25group they've been excellent the comfort comfortable victory against belgium let's
49:30not forget as well a draw with croatia just thinking cameroon leading brazil tunisia getting
49:35the better of france france albeit a weekend france side but you're absolutely spot on there's
49:40been some particularly individual results from some of the other african nations but collectively
49:46they're all called the new sunday
49:51the good news for africa is that in a 48 team world cup instead of five sides from that continent
49:55there will be nine whether you saw the outline the proposed outline the next world cup 2026
50:09united states mexico and canada 48 teams 40 more matches 40 to 104 games
50:17to reach the final you play eight pictures rather than seven 12 groups of four top two
50:23go through to a round of 32 plus the eight best third placed sides it's the latest thought
50:31zs i'm guessing it'll be difficult to get to two games in one day though
50:40i take it as probably impossible
50:47that's real goalkeeper of course no question about that
50:55but more pertinently morocco are first to strike
51:01well he just wants it doesn't he he just wants it
51:05mattia alla puts the ball across into the dangerous area
51:09goalkeeper costa he's got to come for it once he comes so he's got to get it
51:14but boy did in as he wants it i think it's diaz just takes his eye off a little bit because he
51:20sees the goalkeeper coming but what a finish just a desire to go and win a win a header get across
51:27ball work it down the left hand side just a simple ball into the box keeper should be coming
51:35for that he's up what a leap it is excellent it really is almost dare i say ronaldo-esque
51:47how high he gets up diogo costa will not want to see that again but credit when he's due
51:54yeah
51:59youssef in the serie of severe who has barely been able to buy a goal in la liga two in 27
52:07games for his club two now at this world cup and one that could have the greatest significance of all
52:17well it's a little bit of both doesn't it join the goalkeeper
52:21shocking really once he comes here he's got to get it but then take nothing away
52:25from the big fella as i say he must be up three feet there he just he wants it he just wants it
52:32portugal look for the immediate reply
52:36dallo there's amrabat popping up
52:38he's done really well there actually again great forward play
52:53i thought the referee might have given the foul against him holding them off but look
52:56he's pulled back there the di's
53:00it's proving a handful
53:02that's liven things up the stadium john
53:10i thought it was loud before but in fact we now know that was nothing
53:26so
53:37your people was getting nowhere near that that's unbelievable
53:41and i think he means it that is unbelievable effort for fernandez
53:48no one in particular
54:10bruno fernandez
54:18so
54:28i think he couldn't quite keep it within bounds
54:33say the piece of the game is unbelievable atalio
54:39so
55:01gives him a little talk doesn't it
55:02so
55:18and he means it don't you worry about it he means that he's so unlucky
55:22if it just dips at the last second it's a goal all the way what an effort that is
55:28here's xiao felix appeal for a penalty the referee says no after a long hard look
55:38well he was perfectly positioned the referee
55:42and it's a strange because i don't think he had any need to go down fernandez
55:45hello
56:07three against three here
56:08yeah
56:11it's a right foot finish all day
56:16what a break wait the pass is perfect right foot all day all day just go and bend the
56:21right across the goalkeeper don't know why i know why because you left back
56:26but it's a right foot finish all day here's the penalty no he got that one right as well
56:31what a 10 minutes we've had here burst into sparkling life this game
56:37but that was a brilliant attack down the left hand shade again beautiful ball
56:45i don't know why he lets it across him he's clearly not confident in his right foot at all
56:49john but believe me it was a right foot finish
56:51it has been quite the closing stages to this first period which ends with portuguese protests
57:06and howls of support for morocco
57:12who lead through yusuf and the series 42nd minute buccaneering header
57:18subsequently bruno fernandez hit the post there's all sorts of portuguese unhappiness
57:23from members of their staff directed at the match officials we'll get the views of graham
57:28suness nadia nadim and nigel deon shortly in the company of sima jaswal but morocco
57:34are potentially halfway to history here they lead portugal one nil at the break

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