world cup
Croatia beats Morocco 2-1 to take 3rd place at World Cup
Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup.
The runners-up from four years ago secured another medal by beating Morocco 2-1 in the third-place match on Saturday.
Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before halftime at Khalifa International Stadium to ensure Modric finished on a winning note, if this does turn out to be his last World Cup match.
At the age of 37, that seems likely, even if there are hopes he will lead his country at the 2024 European Championship.
Josko Gvardiol put Croatia ahead in the seventh minute, but Achraf Dari evened the score in the ninth.
It is the second time Croatia has taken third place. The team also achieved that feat in its first World Cup as an independent nation 1998.
After becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals, Morocco’s tournament ended in two losses. But the team’s achievements in Qatar will be remembered for the outpouring of pride among Arab nations.
The World Cup final between defending champion France and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday at Lusail Stadium.
Read more: Morocco v Croatia: Fight for 3rd place, or losers' playoff?
The third-place match is considered by some to be a meaningless exhibition. Even Morocco coach Walid Regragui described it as a “booby prize” in the buildup. But neither team lacked motivation in a fiercely contested game between two nations that few expected to go so far.
That was underlined by a host of players needing to be substituted because of injury in the second half as Morocco pushed for an equalizer.
The teams had already played out 0-0 draw in the group stage and had made to the semifinals on the back of tough defenses, with a combined six shutouts. Goals weren’t a problem this time.
Perhaps that was because of the relative freedom of playing in a game with supposedly little at stake. Another factor for Morocco, at least, was the absence of three key defenders, Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui.
The impact of those absences was felt when Croatia took the lead off Gvardiol’s diving header. In a slick move, Ivan Perisic flicked a free kick into the middle of the penalty box and the center back did the rest.
Morocco responded two minutes later when Lovro Majer inadvertently helped on Hakim Ziyech’s free kick and Dari headed in to even the score.
Croatia, however, was back in front three minutes before halftime.
Read more: Qatar World Cup: Croatia vs Morocco match ends in goalless draw
Orsic picked up the ball on the left of the box and curled a shot toward the top corner. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou got a touch on the ball, but could only push it onto the post on its way into the net.
Why are Argentines such ardent World Cup fans?
Argentina arguably has the World Cup’s most fervent fans, known for their rhythmical singing, incessant drumming and trance-like ferocity.
The country’s history of success at the World Cup — champions in 1978 and 1986, and runners-up three times — is rivaled by few. This fervor will only grow as Lionel Messi leads Argentina against defending champion France in Sunday’s final in Qatar.
The World Cup is followed almost everywhere — Brazil to Belgium, Morocco to Mexico, and Saudi Arabia to Spain. But few fans are as intense Argentina’s, or as large in numbers in Qatar.
“Above that, people are quite proud of that intensity,” said Santiago Alles, who teaches political science at the University of San Andres in Argentina. “This is something that we are good at, and we care the most about it.”
NATIONAL PRIDE
Inflation in Argentina is running at 100%, unemployment is high and economic growth is slow, and politics are rancorous. But none of that matters during the World Cup. Even opposition political parties call a truce, knowing there is only space for upbeat talk about soccer.
“For a country in the global South, opportunities to defeat the global North are not that frequent,” Alles said. “The World Cup is an opportunity to do that. The national pride is not something you can take away.”
Alles noted that social media in Argentina has shown Japanese fans in Qatar imitating Argentina’s style of cheering, copying the melodies, the pounding drums, and adding improvised lyrics in Japanese.
Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi seeks history with Argentina
“We are exporting our way of watching games to other places -- faraway places with entirely different cultures,” Alles said. “There is some pride there.”
Alles acknowledged he cannot explain entirely why soccer “holds a pervasive presence in social life,” but it’s omnipresent.
“And it has been that way for at least a century,” Alles added. “I saw a picture of a large crowd listening to the 1930 World Cup on the radio.”
Neighboring Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup final, that one at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
IN THE DNA
From sunrise to sunset, in office talk or chatting with friends, the first and last topic in Argentina is often soccer.
“This is a culture where soccer is related with almost every activity in our life,” said Pablo Ava, who teaches sociology at the University of Buenos Aires. “It’s not only passion, but identification. The passion you see in Qatar reflects the passion you see for clubs at a local level.”
Buenos Aires is home to one of the greatest club rivalries: Boca Juniors versus River Plate. Racing Club, among the so-called “Big Five” clubs in Argentina, was strongly supported by former President Juan Domingo Peron. And the stadium was named for him.
“Soccer is important,” Ava said. “It’s part of our conversation. It’s part of our life. Part of our family tradition. Part of our DNA. There is a very strong identification between soccer and your personal life.”
THE POLITICS
Mauricio Macri was the president of Boca Juniors, which helped propel him to the election as mayor of the capital Buenos Aires, and then the presidency of Argentina (2015-19).
Other politicians are directly — or indirectly — connected to many clubs. Sergio Massa, the country’s economy minister, has been a leader at Tigre club and gets some credit for helping get it promoted to the first division.
“Marci showed up in politics, not as an entrepreneur. He showed up as Boca Juniors president who won 17 cups (tournaments),” Ava said. “So many people start seeing soccer teams as a trampoline to a career in politics.
“Soccer and politics have started to have a strong marriage because you get good exposure on TV and if you are a success in soccer you can take that success to the public,” Ava added.
The opposite is also true. Macri attended Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago in the opening match of group play at the World Cup. At home, Macri was seen as bringing bad luck. Consequently, current President Alberto Fernandez has said he will not attend the final.
“He is not going to risk his presidency and show up at the last game in Qatar,” Ava said.
UNIFYING FACTOR
Argentines can disagree on everything, but the national soccer team is a unifying force like nothing else.
“In a country that’s highly factious, it the factor that unites everyone,” Mark Jones, who studies Latin American politics at Rice University in Houston, told The Associated Press. “The team usually does well and it’s something to be associated with.”
Read more: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Argentina beat Poland 2-0 to top Group C
The only other unifier that’s as strong is Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas in Spanish), located off the country’s Atlantic coast but under British control. Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982 and lost.
“Argentines see the country has having gone downhill over the last 75 years, and they see their standard of living is significantly worse than it was three or four year ago,” Jones said. “So they are looking for something to be optimistic about — to be happy about — something to hold on to. The national team, the World Cup, provides that.”
Ava, the sociologist, said Argentines are not “caring now to talk about the inflation, the unemployment, because we are going through something that looks more important — and least for a few more days. Politics has to take a little break to let soccer carry on.”
Messi happy to qualify for semis
Lionel Messi admitted his side had suffered to qualify for the semifinals of the World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout against the Netherlands.
"We are really happy, we suffered too much, but it's a quarterfinal in the World Cup, and we suffered what we had to suffer to qualify," said Messi.
Messi was the man of the match after setting up Nahuel Molina for the opening goal and then scoring Argentina's second from the penalty spot with just 17 minutes left to play.
The game appeared to be over before a late Dutch fightback saw Wout Weghorst score in the 83rd and 10th minute of injury time to take it to extra time and penalties.
"We are taking it game after game with the same intensity and same desire. We want to be protagonists. We are really excited and really want to win and we need this joy for us and for everyone who supports us," he said.
The striker expressed his frustration at the second equalizer for the Netherlands, saying that Spanish referee, Mateu Lahoz had added on too much injury time.
"I felt really angry at the late goal. I don't want to talk about the referee, because you can get a suspension, but people saw what happened. FIFA have to look at that. They can't put in a referee who isn't up to the job at this stage," he said.
However, Messi said that he had confidence his side would qualify.
"We knew we had an advantage with Emiliano (Martinez)," he said.
He then looked ahead to the semifinal against Croatia, who also beat Brazil in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Also read: World Cup: Messi, Argentina defeat Netherlands on penalties
"Croatia will be really hard. They were better than Brazil at times and move the ball really well. They are working with the same coach (Zlatko Dalic) as 2018 and it will be really hard.
"I've said all World Cup, we are enjoying this, the fans, and taking it step by step.
"I am very happy," he concluded.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who saved two penalties in the shootout, said: "I am very excited. We played for 45 million people. The people are not having a good time economically and we are giving them some joy."
"I couldn't make the saves in 90 minutes, but luckily I was able to do so in the penalties. I saved two and could have saved a third.
"We won because we have balls, passion and because we played for 45 million Argentines. We are as excited as they are," said Martinez
Poland finds its true level at World Cup, beaten by the best
Poland heads home from the World Cup as the latest team unable to overcome an inspired Kylian Mbappé, who dominated in France’s 3-1 win in the round of 16.
It meant back-to-back losses against the game’s superstars, after Lionel Messi and Argentina won 2-0 in the last round of group-stage games.
Poland looked over-matched at the highest level and unable to create enough chances for its scoring great Robert Lewandowski.
EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCE
Poland’s World Cup was a success on one metric — advancing from the group stage for the first time since 1986.
The standard now is very different from four decades ago, when a round of 16 exit would have been considered a failure for fans who cheered on third-place finishes at the 1974 and 1982 tournaments.
READ: Ronaldo looks to shine like Mbappé and Messi at World Cup
But there is realism now about Poland’s place in soccer, especially when its clubs struggle to be competitive in European competitions.
“We have some limitations,” Poland coach Czesław Michniewicz said after his team was eliminated Sunday.
As France coach Didier Deschamps noted before the game in praising Poland: “They are good at defending, and I think that they actually like defending.”
Still, Poland advanced from Group C thanks to a solid 2-0 win over a Saudi Arabia team that had just impressed the world beating Argentina 2-1 in their opener.
And for a 10-minute spell late in the first half, Poland had France reeling and Piotr Zieliński probably should have scored the game’s first goal.
WHO’S OUT?
Maybe the whole band stays together, at least for the next European Championship cycle.
Poland’s power trio for the past decade has been the veteran core of Lewandowski, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny and defender Kamil Glik. No one was ending their international career after the loss to France.
Lewandowski was hesitant when asked if he wanted to aim for the 2026 World Cup, which starts in North America two months before his 38th birthday.
READ: FIFA World Cup 2022 Brazil vs South Korea LIVE Streaming: Predicted XI, How to watch online and TV Channel
But playing in the 2024 European Championships in Germany, a second home for the former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich star, is within his sights.
Coach Michniewicz is set to lead that campaign. Hired in January on a short-term contract, he is reportedly getting an automatic extension through Euro 2024 for advancing to the round of 16.
WHO’S NEXT?
At age 28, Zieliński has stepped up a level to shine in an excellent Napoli team that leads Serie A and looks set to go deep in the Champions League.
Roma defender Nicola Zalewski has flourished in coach Jose Mourinho’s team though was not used as a starter in Qatar.
“Nico is still a young 20-year-old for him to come to a major tournament,” Poland full-back Matty Cash said. “We have got many good players coming through.”
And Lewandowski’s replacement could come from Major League Soccer, where 25-year-old Karol Świderski scored 10 goals and added six assists last season with Charlotte FC.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Poland is the top-seeded team in a Euro 2024 qualifying group that plays through next year and is strongly favored to advance to the 24-team tournament.
The top two of Poland, Czechia, Albania, Moldova and the Faeroe Islands in the five-team standings will qualify. The Poles start March 24 with their toughest game, away to the Czechs.
Poland will expect Lewandowski there adding to his national record of 78 goals in 138 games.
Suarez a World Cup great for Uruguay, ‘the devil’ for others
The day before what was likely his last World Cup game, Luis Suarez walked into the room, sat down and placed himself squarely in the spotlight — again.
Then a Ghanaian journalist let it all out: Ghana wants to “retire you,” he said to the Uruguay forward. You are “the devil himself.” You need to apologize to my country for what you did.
Quite the reaction to a soccer player, even if his deliberate handball more than a decade ago is still one of the most contentious moments in World Cup history.
Read: Neymar expected to train again with Brazil at World Cup
Uruguay’s 2-0 win over Ghana on Friday, which still resulted in elimination for the Uruguayans, is expected to be Suarez’s last World Cup game if he stays true to his pre-tournament pronouncement. And if so, it ended the international career of one of soccer’s most divisive characters, a player who is adored in Uruguay, who won titles at Ajax, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and who was at his height one of the best strikers in the world.
Suarez brought joy to his teams and fans, often after extended periods of gloom. With Suarez, Uruguay ended 20 years of World Cup underachievement — either failing to qualify or being eliminated in the group stage — to reach the semifinals in 2010. He helped deliver Uruguay’s first Copa America title in 16 years in 2011. He was instrumental in Atletico Madrid’s first Spanish title in seven years in 2021.
In doing so, Suarez also managed to regularly provoke emotions on the other side of the spectrum.
He is still loathed in Ghana, as the journalist reminded everyone this week, for that handball in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals that ripped a historic place in the semifinals away from the Ghanaians.
Suarez’s reputation, which was more than controversial, was mostly because of his own actions. He was also banned on three separate occasions for biting opponents in a game, and once for racially abusing an opponent.
The handball incident has stayed with him more than the others.
Read: Brazil fans at World Cup show support for soccer great Pelé
Suarez’s actions on the goal line 12 years ago denied Ghana a certain goal at the very end of extra time with the score even at 1-1. He was sent off for the handball but celebrated wildly on the sidelines when Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty.
Uruguay won in a penalty shootout and Suarez said in the aftermath: “Truth is, it was worth it.”
Suarez’s brutal honesty in owning what he did remained more than a decade later. When the Ghanaian journalist went on about demanding his apology this week, Suarez listened intently, then folded his arms and replied.
“I don’t apologize for that because ... it’s not my fault,” Suarez said. “I didn’t miss the penalty.”
While that may have reignited the anger for Ghanaians, it interestingly won a level of support from Ghana coach Otto Addo. Addo said most players would have done what Suarez did by stopping that ball with his hand. He just owned up to it. He referred to Suarez’s actions as actually a sacrifice for Uruguay.
Suarez’s mere presence at that pre-match news conference also said something. Amid the frenzy ahead of Uruguay’s rematch with Ghana in Qatar, Suarez could easily have skipped the media gathering and Uruguay could have sent another player out to avoid the inevitable grilling.
Suarez walked in and faced it head-on.
He also did that on the field in his last game for his country, the rematch with Ghana. At the age of 35, he led the Uruguay attack and played key roles in both goals. His delightful flick over the defense to set up teammate Giorgian De Arrascaeta for the second goal reminded everyone of the player Suarez was. Minutes later, Suarez was angrily yelling at the referee and got a yellow card, reminding everyone who he also is.
He would go to the limit for his team, sometimes past it.
When Suarez bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder in a game at the 2014 World Cup, FIFA responded with a ban of four months from all soccer and nine games for his country. It was one of the harshest penalties ever handed out at the tournament. Suarez didn’t play for Uruguay again until 2016 and even Chiellini said the punishment was excessive. Suarez did apologize to Chiellini for the bite.
His fourth World Cup ended in Qatar with him crying in the dugout after being substituted. Uruguay was heading to the last 16 for the fourth straight time before a stoppage-time goal in the other Group H game between South Korea and Portugal changed the course of the group and sent Uruguay home and Suarez into international retirement.
He said he would deal with that bitter ending, too.
“It’s up to me,” Suarez said, “to face the situation.”
Messi, Lewandowski to square off as Argentina face Poland
Two of the best players on the planet go head-to-head when Lionel Messi of Argentina and Robert Lewandowski of Poland meet with World Cup implications in what is likely Messi's final attempt to win the tournament.
That match is part of an intense Wednesday at the World Cup: Mexico could be eliminated from the group stage for the first time since 1978 and Saudi Arabi has a chance to advance after its opening-game upset over Argentina.
But the spectacle will be at Stadium 974 in Doha, where Messi and Lewandowski square off.
Poland leads the group and a draw is enough to advance to the round of 16. But after the shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in its opening match, Argentina is only guaranteed to advance with a victory. A draw could get Argentina into the next round depending on the other result.
A loss? Well, that would mean elimination and humiliation. Messi is playing in his record-tying fifth World Cup and, at 35 years old, he's unlikely to play in a sixth.
He knows it, too, and the devoted Argentina fanbase shed tears after Messi scored the crucial second-half goal to seal a 2-0 win over Mexico last week. Argentina has not been eliminated from the group stage since 2002.
Read more: Goalless Mexico on brink of World Cup elimination
“I think when the groups were drawn and we were put together, the whole world has been waiting for this match," Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said.
Poland is trying to advance out of the group stage for the first time since 1986, and the Poles last went unbeaten in all three first round games in 1982 en route to the semifinals. Lewandowski failed to convert a penalty in a 0-0 draw with Mexico, but he scored his first career World Cup goal in a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia.
Messi and Lewandowski have never before played each other at the international level, but have gone head-to-head three times at the club level in the Champions League. Messi scored twice for Barcelona in a 2015 win and Lewandowski scored once each for Bayern Munich in victories over Barcelona in 2015 and 2020.
Michniewicz said the match is much bigger than two players and it will be team effort, not Messi or Lewandowski, that decides the game.
“It’s not Messi versus Lewandowski. It’s not tennis, it’s not 1-on-1. They are not serving to each other," the Poland coach said. “Robert needs his teammates, like Leo does. They rely on their teammates, they can’t do this alone, although these individual players can do a lot themselves.”
MEXICO-SAUDI ARABIA
Mexico came to the World Cup with goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa desperate to advance past the round of 16 and play in an elusive “quinto partido” — a fifth game.
If Mexico doesn't make something happen against Saudi Arabia, there might not even be a “cuarto partido.”
El Tri hasn't advanced to the quarterfinals since Mexico hosted the 1986 tournament, but the team is now on the verge of elimination in group play. A loss to Saudi Arabia would end Mexico’s bid for an eighth straight trip to the World Cup’s knockout rounds.
The last time Mexico played at soccer’s biggest tournament and didn’t advance out of its group was in 1978.
But Mexico needs to do more than just win. Even with a victory, Mexico needs Poland to beat Argentina, and maybe even goal difference will determine Mexico's fate.
Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi leads Argentina to 2-0 win over Mexico
One problem: Mexico has yet to score any goals in Qatar. El Tri hasn’t scored in 384 straight minutes at the World Cup, dating back to their second group match at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
“In the next game we have no more chances,” Mexico forward Henry Martin said. “We have to score the goals that we can, and not worry what happens in the other game.”
Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets ever when it beat Argentina 2-1 in its opener. The team reached the knockout stage in 1994 in its World Cup debut but hasn’t made it past the group stage since.
Saudi Arabia can advance with a win. A draw would also be enough if Poland beats Argentina.
“We will play to the last second of this tournament and we will not give up,” Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard said.
Could World Cup be Bale's goodbye to the global stage?
With Wales on the verge of World Cup elimination, Gareth Bale was dismissive when asked if Tuesday’s game against England could be the last for his country.
“Nope,” was his one-word answer. He chose not to elaborate.
While questions hang over Bale’s long-term future, Wales’ concerns are more immediate.
If Wales fails to beat England in its final Group B game it is out of the World Cup. But even a win might not be enough to secure qualification to the knockout stages.
“We’re disappointed in the results and the performances,” Bale said Monday. “But that’s football, it’s not easy, it’s a World Cup. We don’t need to get anyone going — we just need to keep working hard and hopefully things will turn around for us.”
Read more: Why are World Cup players donning unusual face masks on pitch?
The 1-1 draw with the United States in Wales’ opening game, when Bale scored a penalty to tie, was a solid enough start.
But a 2-0 loss to Iran has put Wales in jeopardy of World Cup elimination.
So it is understandable that Bale had little interest in engaging in discussion about his storied career and what remains for his playing days.
He was asked how a win against England and moving into the round of 16 would rank against his five Champions League trophies with Real Madrid.
“I’ll let you know if it happens,” he said curtly.
At 33, Bale doesn’t need to be told occasions like this might be over for him once Wales’ World Cup adventure ends.
After leading his country to the semifinals of Euro 2016 and through to the knockout stages of Euro 2020, he ended Wales' 64-year wait to qualify for a World Cup. But his influence is declining, as has been evident in Wales’ opening two games.
Meanwhile, other key players in Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen are also past their peak. With a lack of obvious replacements coming through, qualification for another major tournament may not be on the horizon any time soon.
Read more: Viral Wales video hangs over World Cup clash with England
Bale has also said goodbye to elite European football – joining MLS team Los Angeles FC in the summer.
In short, his opportunities to play in front of a global audience could be scarce beyond Qatar.
But it would be unwise to write off a player who has made a career of producing game-changing moments on the biggest occasions.
That's a fact England coach Gareth Southgate noted when was asked to pay tribute to one of British soccer’s greats. In his mind, Bale represents a very live threat.
“He’s had a fantastic — or is having a fantastic career,” he said. “Clearly his club career and what he won with Real Madrid is phenomenal. We know that he’s capable of those individual moments of brilliance in the penalty area and from distance as well. Free kicks, of course, are a great strength.”
Perhaps no team at the World Cup is more reliant on one player as Wales is with Bale.
Not Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo – or Argentina with Lionel Messi.
“I do the same as I always do. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” said Bale. “Sometimes I have a good game, sometimes I don’t. It’s football, it’s difficult to always play well.
“I will give everything, like I always do for my country. I will just try to lead by example and hopefully that’s enough on the day. That is all I can do.”
Viral Wales video hangs over World Cup clash with England
If England needs any added motivation ahead of its final World Cup group game against Wales on Tuesday, it only has to watch a certain video from 2016.
Footage of Wales players celebrating wildly as their UK neighbor crashed out of the European Championship after losing to Iceland went viral at the time.
England was humiliated. Wales, which lost 2-1 to the Three Lions in the group stage but went on to reach the semifinal, was jubilant.
Much has changed since then — a point England forward Marcus Rashford made ahead of the Group B match.
Read: Qatari bathrobes’: German commentator under fire for disparaging remark about traditional attire
“I don’t think it takes a genius to see how we’ve improved since 2016. For me it feels like a completely different team. We’ve come on so much. We’ve learned a lot about ourselves along the way,” he said.
“Back in 2016, if you look at that performance when we got knocked out the Euros, it is a million miles off where we are now. You cannot really compare the two situations.”
That sentiment is backed up by England’s tournament performances over the last four years — reaching the semifinals of the World Cup in 2018 and the final of last year’s European Championship, which it lost on penalties to Italy.
England is among the favorites to triumph in Qatar and only needs a point against Wales to guarantee qualification to the knockout stages. Depending on goal difference, England could still progress even if it loses that match.
Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatari fans hit back at Germany by recalling Özil in protest
Bottom of the group with one point from its first two matches, Wales must win to have any chance of reaching the round of 16 at its first World Cup since 1958.
“That’s the hurt at the moment,” said midfielder Joe Allen. “It’s a feeling of missed opportunity in the first two games.”
“Our focus now moves onto getting on the training pitch, putting in the work and preparing for the performance of our lives against England,” he added.
Wales will be looking for inspiration from Gareth Bale if it is to win against England for the first time since 1984.
The Los Angeles FC forward came into the tournament on the back of just one game since the start of October and has looked labored in his performances.
Meanwhile, England’s Harry Kane is yet to score at this World Cup and was off the pace in his team’s 0-0 draw with the United States after hurting his ankle in the previous game against Iran.
The Golden Boot winner from 2018 is just three goals away from overtaking Wayne Rooney’s total of 53 to become his nation’s all time leading scorer.
“He’s enjoying his football,” said Rashford. “But for any forward you want to be scoring goals. I’m sure if he keeps doing what he’s doing he’ll score.”
Morocco beat Belgium 2-0 pulling off another shock at World Cup
Morocco pulled off another shock at the World Cup on Sunday, beating Belgium 2-0 to leave Kevin de Bruyne and the 2018 semifinalists in peril of a group-stage exit.
Substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri got one past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois by whipping in a free kick from a tight angle at the near post in the 73rd minute for Morocco’s first goal. Zakaria Aboukhlal then guided a shot into the roof of the net off a pass from Hakim Ziyech in stoppage time.
Read: Argentina riding emotional rollercoaster at World Cup
Belgium, ranked No. 2 in the world behind Brazil, had won its last seven group games at the World Cup. It was Morocco’s first win at a World Cup since 1998 and only its third ever.
Belgium would have become the second team after defending champion France to qualify for the knockout stage if it had beaten the Moroccans.
Belgium will next play 2018 finalist Croatia in its final group match, while Morocco will face Canada.
Argentina riding emotional rollercoaster at World Cup
As Lionel Messi struggled to hold back his tears, Pablo Aimar let them flow on the bench.
Covering his hands with his face, Argentina’s assistant coach, the former player who Messi idolized as a child, was almost hyperventilating with emotion after the goal that kept alive the Albiceleste’s World Cup journey.
A sobbing Aimar even had to be calmed down by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni as the final minutes were being played in the team’s 2-0 win over Mexico on Saturday.
This is how much it means to Argentina — the nation, the fans, the coaching staff and the players.
And, for Scaloni, it’s a real concern.
“We should have a little more common sense, and think that it is just a football game,” Scaloni said. “The truth is, I don’t share the feeling that you are playing something more than a game. And that’s what the players feel when they go out on the pitch.
“We have to correct it and we will try to continue on the path of them feeling that it is a football game. Otherwise, every time you have to play for a match, for the knockout phase .... it will always be like that.”
Unfortunately for Scaloni, it seems as if this is one message which is unlikely to get through at this World Cup.
One of his favorite sayings over the past week in Qatar and going back further is: “Win or lose, the sun will rise tomorrow.”
For Argentines, however, this journey to a third World Cup title has the feeling of life or death.
They’ve gone from the unexpected low of losing to Saudi Arabia in one of the World Cup’s biggest upsets to the high of beating Mexico to ignite their hopes of going all the way.
Teary-eyed fans embraced each other in the stands at Lusail Stadium. Argentine journalists did the same.
And the players were getting carried away in the locker room after the final whistle, singing songs — one chorus says that Diego Maradona and his mother are cheering on Messi from heaven— while jumping up and down on their seats and banging their fists against the walls. Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez stood on a table in the middle of the room, swinging a towel above his head.
So much for the need to “maintain balance,” as Scaloni suggested after the game.
“People will think I’m crazy but fine, we won, we’re celebrating, it happens,” Scaloni said.
“But tomorrow we have to prepare the (next) game. It’s like when we won the Copa (America) final and we had to think about what came next. The joy doesn’t last long.”
Whether Argentina’s players can get off this emotional rollercoaster ahead of the make-or-break match against Poland on Wednesday remains to be seen.
A draw might not be enough so Argentina will have to play to win at Stadium 974 in Doha in a match held concurrently with Mexico-Saudi Arabia in Group C.
Calm heads may be needed, though that doesn’t seem the Argentina way.
Indeed, Messi thought that was his team’s problem as Argentina struggled to find a way through Mexico’s obdurate defense in the first hour of the match. Messi could be seen imploring his teammates to relax.
“We knew we were going too fast at times and therefore we made mistakes,” he said.
Messi said Argentina was anxious in the game against Saudi Arabia, also played in front of tens of thousands of Albiceleste fans in a Lusail Stadium that can hold nearly 89,000. The attendance of 88,966 spectators for the Mexico match was the largest at a World Cup match since 1994.
There will be around half that number in the stadium for the game against Poland.
That may prove be a blessing for Argentina.