World Cup games

Follow live updates of the Morocco vs Portugal FIFA World Cup 2022 quarterfinal match at the Al Thumama Stadium.

Morocco showed lovely teamwork to play the ball out from the back amidst pressure from the Portugal players. He connects well with the header but Bono is alert enough to make the save. En-Nesyri gets at the end of the cross and flicks a header towards goal but cannot keep his effort on target. Morocco cannot clear its lines and Guerreiro had a crack at goal but could not find the target. Attiat-Allah sends a brilliant cross inside the box from the left flank and En-Nesyri towers over everyone and heads the ball in the net. Guerreiro passes the ball to Felix inside the box, who goes for a first-time shot at goal. Attiat-Allah squares the ball to Amallah from the left flank. Ziyech swings on a dangerous ball from the right and the ball bounced dangerously in front of Costa. But Bono dives at full-stretch to get his hand to it and send the ball out for a corner. Morocco with a brilliant counter-attack and a brilliant chance to make grab a second. Close- Another good counter-attack from Morocco and the Portugal defence was left open for a second. He shoots low and hard at Bono’s near-post but he gets down to make the save.

Morocco were huge underdogs ahead of their game vs. Portugal but became the first African side to advance to the World Cup semifinals.

- Portugal are 1-7-0 (W-L-D) when trailing at half-time at the World Cup. Morocco: Incredibly, a World Cup semifinal against England or France is next on the agenda at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday at 10 p.m. - En-Nesyri's goal was the second headed goal ever scored by Morocco in World Cup history. - Entering the match, Morocco were on a nine-match unbeaten streak in all competitions: the second-longest among teams still in the World Cup. Eight different players have scored for Fernando Santos' team at the World Cup and it was the wrong moment for almost all of them to have an off day. [Youssef En-Nesyri](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/242736/Youssef-En-Nesyri) got the only goal in a dramatic 1-0 win at Al Thumama and denied Portugal what would have been a place in the last four for the first time for 16 years. If this is the last we see of one of history's great players on this stage then it was a very meek way to bow out. We fought for each ball and we are very happy with the win, and it's very important for us and for the future." Morocco struck a huge blow for African and Arab football by becoming the first team to reach a World Cup semifinal. [Bracket](https://www.espn.com/soccer/bracket) [Highlights and notable moments](#highlights) [Best/worst performers](#bestworst)

The "World Cup Now" crew breaks down which players were most important in Morocco's stunning quarterfinal win over Portugal.

All rights reserved. Ranking the 5 best - France legend Thierry Henry reportedly 'keen' on coaching USMNTHas 'Ted Lasso' hurt soccer in U.S.? World Cup Cup FIFA World Cup - Goals

“If we take two people that were the most upset about the game, perhaps it was Cristiano Ronaldo and myself,” Portugal Coach Fernando Santos said through an ...

But that goal was Ronaldo’s only one in this tournament and perhaps the final one of his World Cup career. Santos later said that Ronaldo was not happy when told of his benching but that he had never threatened to leave the team. Cristiano is a great player and he came in when we thought it was necessary.” Against Morocco’s defense, Ramos didn’t wow again and was replaced by Rafael Leão in the 69th minute. But during a 2-1 loss to South Korea in Portugal’s third and final group-stage game, Santos replaced Ronaldo much sooner, in the 65th minute. In the tunnel, television cameras showed Ronaldo — one of the most decorated players to never have won a World Cup and who had been reduced to a substitute player of late — wiping tears from his eyes. So against Morocco, Santos stuck with what worked and had Ronaldo on the bench again while Ramos started. During the first two games of the World Cup group stage, Ronaldo started and was removed late for a substitute. Benched in back to back knockout stage games by Santos, Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, performed little like the dazzling player who had scored 118 times in 196 career appearances for his national team. Here’s a primer to the [final hurrah on this stage for veteran stars](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/08/sports/world-cup/messi-ronaldo-soccer.html) like Ronaldo, Lionel Messi of Argentina and Luka Modric of Croatia. As Morocco and its fans celebrated with glee and Portugal’s players stood around in shock, Ronaldo, 37, exited what he has said could well be his final World Cup.

Morocco fans have lit up the World Cup and have now given a thunderclap, made famous by Icelandic fans, their own twist.

“I think it is brilliant that the world has finally seen it because it has been there for a very long time.” Many live in Qatar while others flew in from Morocco and across the world. Videos have emerged of fans of the French club side Lens performing the clap while shouting their team’s name a few years before Euro 2016. They have come in thousands to the stadiums. Iceland fans were seen carrying out the Viking clap at Euro 2016 which took place in France. The whistling, clapping and jeering gave way to complete silence.

France and Argentina entered the World Cup as contenders, but Croatia and Morocco have proved to be worthy challengers for the title.

This time it is seeking to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to mount a successful defense of its World Cup title. That has manifested in each and every one of its games so far; the French may have faced more illustrious teams here, but they have certainly not encountered such a hostile atmosphere. It barely broke a sweat in this tournament before facing England, and such is France’s self-assurance that it needed to play well for less than a third of that quarterfinal to make it through. Just as significant, though, is the fact that this will feel like a Moroccan home game. But even more impressive than its performance was that it recovered from conceding a late equalizer to win the game on penalties. The first is Morocco’s bloody-minded obstinacy. Here’s a primer to the Argentina has shown a nerve and a coolness even in that white heat that indicates a certain steel. The emotion pulsing through Argentina’s players and fans has never been far from the surface in Qatar. “Any of the four teams can win it,” he said. DOHA, Qatar — Even Didier Deschamps, France’s ordinarily gnomic coach, seemed a little indifferent in the wee hours of Sunday morning. It had made the final four.

The north African nation had only ever won two of its previous 16 matches at the World Cup.

The supporters have been ubiquitous in Doha, proudly carrying around the Morocco flag and wearing the team’s red jerseys. “We are showing the world you can succeed even if you don’t have as much talent and money.” Regragui’s task was two-fold: to get his players functioning in a system that could get results at the World Cup and to get them believing they could shock the world. “I told them, ‘You don’t come to the World Cup only to play three games,” he said. Regragui was about to inherit the most talented Morocco squad in a generation. Its players were talented but battling a culture of underachievement by the country at major soccer tournaments.

England vs. France Highlights | 2022 FIFA World Cup · France's Olivier Giroud makes INCREDIBLE game-winning header.

[ FIFA World Cup 2022](/stories/soccer/france-keeps-focus-as-it-inches-toward-world-cup-repeat-we-havent-won-anything-yet) Netherlands: ‘We have a weight off our shoulders’](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lionel-messi-on-rally-vs-netherlands-we-have-a-weight-off-our-shoulders) [As soccer's popularity grows, so does World Cup tradition with sticking power](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/as-soccers-popularity-grows-so-does-a-world-cup-tradition-with-sticking-power) [Best of the World Cup so far: Top goal, save, player, team and more](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/best-of-the-world-cup-so-far-top-goal-save-player-team-and-more) [Quick guide to surviving penalty-kick shootouts at World Cup](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/quick-guide-to-surviving-penalty-kick-shootouts-at-world-cup) [Stu Holden's top 50 players at the World Cup](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/stu-holdens-top-50-players-at-world-cup-2022) [ FIFA World Cup 2022](/stories/soccer/world-cup-stage-was-set-for-a-cristiano-ronaldo-hero-moment-but-it-never-arrived) [Aurélien Tchouaméni](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/aurelien-tchouameni-player) goal to set the tone. I think he's a leader on and off the pitch. France is also the first team to win a World Cup game despite giving away two penalties (since 1966). France is two wins away from becoming the first back-to-back World Cup champion since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. I think he's a fantastic player. I love that he's the late bloomer. The passing, the attacking, the defending — the commitment to defending on both sides of the ball I thought was amazing. [Olivier Giroud](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/olivier-giroud-player) came up with the go-ahead goal for France late in the second half on a header. He was awarded a free kick in the last minute of stoppage time, but his shot was too high and went over the net, sealing France's win.

France's road to repeating as champs goes through Harry Kane and a very strong England team. Follow live.

England’s team in Qatar has the talent, tactics and, perhaps, fortitude to win another — if it can neutralize Kylian Mbappé, who seems to score as often as that New Balance commercial plays on Fox. But who knows: maybe England would have scored from the resultant free-kick. Controlling the ball at the right corner of the France penalty area, he takes a crack at Lloris, or rather a tiny bit of space over Lloris’s right shoulder, that is. England turns the resulting free kick into a shot, and a corner. England has been the better team here, but it has about 15 minutes to find a goal or it’s going out of the World Cup. That was the warning; England, caught out by a laser of a cross from Griezmann, did not heed it. Rashford wins a free kick in an extremely dangerous place, just outside the D at the top of the penalty area, a little to the left. The winner of that will meet the Croatia-Argentina winner in the World Cup final on Dec. Gradually, it stripped any urgency from its play, any impetus, as if expecting England simply to succumb. The French return to the semifinals with a sudden burst of energy in the second half and with the help of a missed penalty by Harry Kane. There were, however, other apparent offenses: a penalty claim from Kane, in particular, which was certainly a foul but was not, on more detailed review, actually in the penalty area; a succession of hairsplitting free kicks awarded against England; an array of French transgressions that seemed to pass by unnoticed. It is, or at least it has become, a natural part of the cycle, a chance for catharsis, collective therapy or just some good, old-fashioned bloodletting, depending on the circumstances.

Besides the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there are other football matches as well, which fans can enjoy. Earlier, Morocco defeated Portugal in the quarter-finals of ...

Argentina has already reached the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, where they will face Croatia. Interestingly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup has witnessed many upsets, including the recent elimination of Portugal. Notably, the 37-year-old football star has never scored a goal in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage. While becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals, Morocco defeated Portugal 1-0 on December 10. Oil has fallen to its lowest this year, trading near $76 a barrel, a sharp decline from $129 in March. [World Cup](/topic/world-cup)matches on December 11, football fans can enjoy FA Women's [Super League](/topic/super-league)matches on Paramount+.

Wahl was an analyst on CBS Sports throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

And we thank Grant for his tremendous dedication to and impact on our game in the United States. On Thanksgiving Day, "Good Rivals" -- a docuseries exploring the social, political and sporting layers of the rivalry between the United States and Mexico -- launched with Wahl as one of the producers. Here in the United States, Grant's passion for soccer and commitment to elevating its profile across our sporting landscape played a major role in helping to drive interest in and respect for our beautiful game. She is a CBS News medical contributor and former member of the COVID-19 Advisory Board created by the transition team of then-U.S. Wahl fortified his place in the sports industry as one of the most renowned soccer reporters in the United States where he covered Major League Soccer, the National Women's Soccer League and the U.S. Wahl is survived by his wife, Celine Gounder, an American medical doctor and medical journalist who specializes in infectious diseases and global health. He worked his way up to become a senior writer at Sports Illustrated where he covered numerous NCAA Tournaments, Olympics Games and World Cups over the course of his career. While in Qatar, Wahl was honored by FIFA -- along with 70-plus veteran journalists who have covered eight or more World Cups -- in a special ceremony held in conjunction with the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). Detailing impact of Beckham's move to the United States, it became a New York Times bestseller. Wahl's agent, Tim Scanlan, told CBS News that Wahl "appeared to have suffered some sort of acute distress in the press room" when the two teams began playing in extra time. What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort," Wahl wrote on Dec. He may have suffered a heart attack or a pulmonary event, according to those close to the situation, but the exact cause of death is not yet known, CBS News reports.

Fifa has responded to a British reporter's claim that medics didn't have a defibrillator at the Doha stadium press box.

I've been to the medical centre at the clinic twice now, including today. A guard had told him his t-shirt was not allowed and he needed to change it, Wahl said at the time. “I went into the medical clinic at the main media centre today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. You can probably tell by my voice that I am not doing 100% here." Free to read: What happened when Qatar World Cup security detained me for 25 minutes for wearing a t-shirt supporting LGBTQ rights, forcibly took my phone and angrily demanded that I remove my t-shirt to enter the stadium. They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. “So I've had a case of bronchitis this week. A Fifa representative also apologised later. That was the question we kept asking each other, as the medics pumped and pumped to no avail,” Glancy wrote. Eventually a security commander arrived. [United States football journalist Grant Wahl dies while covering World Cup in Qatar](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/300761894/united-states-football-journalist-grant-wahl-dies-while-covering-world-cup-in-qatar?rm=a) [Memorial to American football journalist Grant Wahl placed at World Cup match](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/300762146/memorial-to-american-football-journalist-grant-wahl-placed-at-world-cup-match?rm=a)

Grant Wahl, one of the most well-known soccer writers in the United States, died while covering the World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands.

“You come to a World Cup as a journalist to work, to share the stresses, the pressures but also the enjoyments and the fascination of it – and to share that with your readers, your listeners, your viewers. He spent a lot of time in my hometown of Akron,” James said in Philadelphia after the Los Angeles Lakers lost in overtime to the 76ers. Among Grant Wahl’s work before he began covering soccer exclusively was a Sports Illustrated cover story about LeBron James in 2002, when James was a junior at St. “We could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game, and its major protagonists,” the U.S. Wahl said FIFA apologized to him. “There was never any doubt that Grant was on the side of the good guys in wanting soccer to make the best of itself.” Gay and lesbian sex is criminalized in Qatar, a conservative Muslim emirate. They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. “I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. He also brought a critical eye to the organizational bodies of the international sport. Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you,” Grant Wahl wrote. The World Cup organizing committee said he was taken to Doha’s Hamad General Hospital, but it did not state a cause of death.

The tournament is the first to be held in the Arab world and only the second to take place in Asia, after Japan and South Korea joint-hosted the event in 2002.

Hosts Qatar started their tournament against Ecuador, before taking on Senegal and Netherlands – the latter duo were set to be the first match of the 2022 World Cup before organisers moved Qatar’s match to be a day earlier. Brazil and Argentina feature in the knockout stages, while Senegal could represent Africa’s biggest hopes of winning for the first time. This edition will be the last to feature just 32 teams, with the tournament being expanded from 2026 onwards in order to feature 48 nations.

With the 2022 World Cup semifinals set, we bring you why each team will progress, plus one player to know ahead of the matchups and predictions.

[Marcus Thuram](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/217331/marcus-thuram), [Kolo Muani](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/252971/randal-kolo-muani)) and midfielders ( [Youssouf Fofana](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/277307/youssouf-fofana)) but no one who can realistically change the game. [Nayef Aguerd](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/245243/Nayef-Aguerd), the other outstanding centre-back missed the Portugal game, as did [Noussair Mazraoui](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/239350/Noussair-Mazraoui), the other fullback. [Dayot Upamecano](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/222793/dayot-upamecano) to make some mistakes that could have proven costly. In a match where Les Bleus will have a lot of the ball against a really low and compact block, his movement and impact with the ball will be important. [Juventus](/soccer/team/_/id/111) midfielder has been outstanding so far, and we don't say it enough. [Kylian Mbappe](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231388/Kylian-Mbappé) to run into. Look at the penalties Les Bleus conceded in the quarterfinal (especially the [Theo Hernandez](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/233621/Theo-Hernández) one), look at the way they were outplayed for much of the game and ask yourself: who is more focused right now? [Achraf Hakimi](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/240233/Achraf-Hakimi) is battle-scarred and hurting. [Romain Saiss](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/167686/Romain-Saïss) played carrying an injury against [Portugal](/soccer/team?id=482) and had to come off. [Bracket](https://www.espn.com/soccer/bracket) [Morocco](/soccer/team?id=2869) vs. [Croatia](/soccer/team?id=477) vs.

Fresh from Brazil victory, the Croatia side is confident as they prepare for World Cup semifinal against Argentina.

Argentina almost did not make the semifinals after the Dutch came from 2-0 down to score twice late in the game and force extra time and penalties in a bad-tempered encounter. Defenders Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are suspended because of bookings, limiting coach Lionel Scaloni’s options at the back. The fact that we act and play as a family.” That was as close as Messi has come to lifting football’s biggest trophy and he is just one game away from having another shot at it. “Mateo, Luka and Marcelo are the best Croatia midfield in history. “We will try to stop them as a team and not with man-marking.

Cristiano Ronaldo left the 2022 World Cup in tears as his chances to win the tournament for the first time in his career were shattered after his Portugal ...

However, his benching by Santos and his recent contract termination from Manchester United, which was announced just after the World Cup started, arguably overshadowed Ronaldo’s time at Qatar 2022 in a tournament where he scored just one goal. [2022 World Cup](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/10/football/grant-wahl-death-reaction-world-cup-qatar-spt-intl/index.html) in tears as his chances to win the tournament for the first time in his career were shattered after his Portugal team was shocked 1-0 by [Morocco](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/07/football/morocco-spain-quarter-finals-world-cup-spt-intl/index.html) in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Ronaldo was seen being escorted by a member of staff from the pitch at the Al Thumama Stadium to the Portugal team dressing room immediately after the defeat – the first time an African team has reached the World Cup semifinals –as the 37-year-old was unable to hold back his emotions.

All the info you need to know on the 2022 World Cup Argentina vs Croatia semifinals clash at Lusail Stadium.

But can they eliminate both Brazil and Argentina? 1 favorites Brazil also on penalties after both teams scored in overtime (1-1). Argentina vs Croatia preview

FIFA Chief Women's Football Officer Sarai Bareman says ticket sales have been overwhelming in the opening weeks. "We have sold more tickets in the first six ...

"Team base camps will be a home away from home for each team. So you can say 'I was there when that goal was scored' in 10 or 20 years' time." Just imagine bumping into an American superstar like Megan Rapinoe walking down the road in Auckland?" Bareman said team base camps have been common in the men's World Cups for many years, but would be used for the first time at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. And France was massive," Bareman said. Much of the focus of the meeting was on next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, which included the announcement of team bases for the 32 teams.

The tournament is the first to be held in the Arab world and only the second to take place in Asia, after Japan and South Korea joint-hosted the event in 2002.

But with 10 minutes left in normal time, [Mbappe scored his own penalty before completing a brace with a half-volley just 97 seconds later](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/kylian-mbappe-goals-france-argentina-final-b2247565.html). Fizzed in a shot from range on target and made a huge sprint to assist the second goal, which was a brilliantly weighted ball across. No chance for the second penalty, got a touch on the first - then made a ridiculous, incredible late stop with his foot. Whoever would have thought that Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup would be the worst moment in football history? Scaloni said: “We need to save him for the World Cup, if he wants to keep playing he will be with us. A beautiful view of the game in the first half. It had taken deliberate, dedicated planning to turn something so beautiful so ugly. Several teams have already changed managers and there’s a lot to catch up on following the World Cup. Here’s a team-by-team look at where each club left off Maradona famously drove his country to victory at the 1986 World Cup, while the Jules Rimet trophy was conspicuous by its absence from Messi’s glittering career CV - as the only missing major accolade. That iconic shirt wasn’t really visible on Messi, though, because he was wearing a bisht. It was exactly what Spain did in 2010.