Portugal’s 2022 World Cup campaign ended in the quarter-finals after a 1-0 defeat to Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium.
The Seleção found it hard to create chances before allowing Youssef En-Nesyri to head home a cross in the 42nd minute.
Ronaldo was introduced after the break, setting up a chance for João Félix who forced a fine save from Yassine Bounou.
It wasn't to be however, the Atlas Lions doing what they do best and holding on for another famous win to become the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final.
PortuGOAL's Matthew Marshall reports from Qatar
Pattern established early
Fernando Santos made one change to the side that thrashed Switzerland 6-1 in Lusail, Rúben Neves back into the holding midfield role at the expense of William Carvalho. Gonçalo Ramos held his spot up front after netting a hat-trick which saw Cristiano Ronaldo remain on the bench.
Portugal dominated possession in the opening stages and created the first chance in the 4th minute. Bruno Fernandes’ free kick found João Félix, his diving header tipped wide by Yassine Bounou.
The Seleção found it hard to turn their superiority into goal scoring opportunities however, and were soon reminded that Morocco possessed significant threat on the counter attack.
Diogo Dalot did well to recover and block Yahia Attiyat Allah’s cross, Youssef En-Nesyri heading the resulting corner over the bar.
The pattern of the match was well and truly established with Portugal continually looking for long diagonal balls to release their full-backs and Morocco threatening on the counter.
Hakim Ziyech cut inside and dragged his shot wide before delivering a free kick into the box that En-Nesyri was unable to steer on target.
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More chances for Félix
Félix went close in the 31st minute when his deflected shot narrowly missed the top corner, but once again Morocco stuck to their game plan and fashioned opportunities.
Selim Amallah fired over the bar after the Atlas Lions escaped Portugal’s high press, Morocco making more inroads down the left wing where Sofiane Boufal cut inside and shot straight at Diogo Costa.
Portugal’s chances continued to fall to Félix who volleyed Raphaël Guerreiro’s cross over the bar. Once again the pressure was unable to be sustained, Morocco persisting with their modus operandi and taking the lead in the 42nd minute.
Decisive moment
Bruno Fernandes lost possession which resulted in Yahya Attiat-Allah given time and space to measure a cross into the box, Youssef En-Nesyri rising above Rúben Dias and heading past Costa who had come off his line.
Fernandes hit the bar with a cross/shot before Portugal were denied two penalty claims, Otávio and Fernandes going down in the box after minimal contact from Achraf Hakimi.
Morocco ended the half with another chance created down the left wing, Attiyat Allah bursting clear and shooting wide.
The African side continued where they left off after the break, Achraf Hakimi beating Rúben Neves on a long run down the right wing and eventually taken down by Pepe. The resulting free kick forced Costa into a save that rebounded into Jawad El Yamiq and went wide.
Ronaldo introduced
Fernando Santos didn’t wait long to make changes with João Cancelo and Cristiano Ronaldo replacing Raphaël Guerreiro and Neves in the 51st minute. The substitutions had an immediate impact with Portugal stepping on the gas in search of an equaliser.
Dalot started to get forward with more regularity, his cross straight at Bounou with Ronaldo unmarked and begging for the ball. Otávio’s cross then picked out Gonçalo Ramos who headed wide before Fernandes fired over the bar.
Substitutions start to flow
Morroco's captain and centre-back Romain Saïss went down in the 57th minute, was stretchered off and replaced by Achraf Dari.
Walid Regragui made two more changes when Selim Amallah and Youssef En-Nesyri made way for Badr Benoun and Walid Cheddira, switching to a back three and parking the bus.
Santos immediately countered with Vitinha and Rafael Leão coming on for Otávio and Ramos.
Dalot picked up a hamstring injury and was replaced by Ricardo Horta before Regragui emptied his bench in the 82nd minute, Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal making way for Yahya Jabrane and Zakaria Aboukhlal.
Félix denied
Portugal manufactured a fantastic chance to equalise in the 82nd minute when Horta picked up a loose clearance. He found Ronaldo who laid the ball into the path of Félix, his left-footed effort destined for the net before Bounou dived at full stretch to make a crucial save.
Fernandes released Ronaldo in added time, his shot straight at Bounou before Cheddira picked up two yellow cards in the space of two minutes and was sent off.
Pepe had been brave in persevering with a busted arm, the 39-year-old heading Leão’s cross wide with the final chance of the match.
Expectations extinguished
Portugal’s 6-1 victory against Switzerland in the Round of 16 raised hopes of a third trip to the World Cup semi-finals. They tried hard to find solutions in the first half before a combination of defensive errors contributed to Morocco’s winning goal.
Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes tried hard to instigate opportunities for the attackers and the full-backs did their best to get forward, but finding ways through a stubborn and well organized defence proved to be too much for the Seleção.
Fernando Santos was understandably disappointed after the match, saying “We wanted to give joy to our people and all our players are upset because they were unable to win the match. We knew the challenges we would face, we wanted to have more mobility and we needed some luck but this was not the case.”
Portugal could have shown more attacking intent in the first half, but Morocco continually showed that they have the ability to break clear in numbers which had to be respected.
Fair play to Morocco
Morocco came into the game missing two important defenders, Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd both injured who were replaced by Jawad El Yamiq and Yahia Attiyat Allah.
Walid Regragui deserves a huge amount of credit for preparing his players tactically, mentally and emotionally. They have a massive amount of support in Qatar and continue to ride the wave created and sustained by the African and Arabic worlds.
The Atlas Lions continually prove that individual talent is not enough to win in team sports. What often matters more is cohesiveness, belief, spirit, teamwork and an ability to follow instructions.
Morocco topped a group that featured Croatia and Belgium and have now eliminated Spain and Portugal to become the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. They have conceded one goal in eight matches under Regragui, an own goal in the 2-1 group stage defeat to Canada.
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Sad end for Pepe
Pepe's international career is surely over after earning an impressive 133 caps. Born in Brazil, he fought to the end for his adopted country and will go down as one of the best centre-backs in Portuguese history.
The 39-year-old hurt his arm in the closing stages but battled on, the warrior going close to finding an equaliser at the back post.
It was a sad end to his international career, one in which he was instrumental in helping Portugal win their first major trophy at the 2016 European Championship.
Life goes on
The world was shocked to hear the news of Grant Wahl’s death at the quarter-final clash between Netherlands and Argentina in Lusail last night.
The tributes from those that met Grant paint a picture of a kind man, in addition to a fearsome and uncompromising journalist who was well known and respected by many including this inferior journalist and writer.
Portugal lost a game of football, but life goes on for all of us. Grant's death is another reminder that our time on this planet is short, and it’s important to stay positive and make the most of it.
Morocco manager Walid Regragui summed it all up perfectly, saying “If you don’t dream you don’t get anywhere. It doesn’t cost anything to dream”.
Força
Line Ups
Portugal (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa - Diogo Dalot (Ricardo Horta 79’), Pepe, Rúben Dias, Raphaël Guerreiro (João Cancelo 51’) - Rúben Neves (Cristiano Ronaldo 51’), Otávio (Vitinha 69’) - Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos (Rafael Leão 69’)
Unused substitutes: Rui Patrício, José Sá, António Silva, João Palhinha, William Carvalho, João Mário, Matheus Nunes, André Silva
Morocco (4-3-3): Bounou - Achraf Hakimi, El Yamiq, Romain Saiss (Achraf Dari 57’), Attyat Allah - Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Selim Amallah (Badr Benoun 65’) - Hakim Ziyech (Zakaria Aboukhlal 82’), Sofiane Boufal (Yahya Jabrane 82’), Youssef En-Nesyri (Walid Cheddira 65’)
Unused substitutes: Zaroury, Hamdallah, Sabiri, Chair, El Khannouss, Ezzalzouli, Mohamedi, Tagnaouti
Goal
Youssef En-Nesyri 42'
