Spain's Shocking World Cup Exit Leaves Fans in Disbelief, Full of Praise for Morocco
Dec 6, 2022
AL RAYYAN, QATAR - DECEMBER 06: Abdelhamid Sabiri of Morocco celebrates in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on December 06, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Spain was knocked out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on penalties by Morocco on Tuesday in Qatar.
✅ Born in Madrid ✅Graduated from Real Madrid's academy ✅Decided to represent his parental country, Morocco ✅Scores a panenka to knock Spain out of the World Cup pic.twitter.com/jjsGTzj4Th
Spain out and only themselves to blame, it’s alright having the ball all the time but there has to be some sort of end product, so many times they got in behind on the wing just to turn back and start the passing again in front of the Moroccan defence or even shoot FFS
I really don't consider that an upset. Entirely predictable. Of all the last 16 opponents - France and Brazil included - Morocco was the worst possible match up for Spain
World Cup knockout shocks (let's say nations outside the 10ish pre-WC favourites eliminating one of them) don’t happen often. Spain probably the victim of the last 3: South Korea 2002, Russia 2018, Morocco 2022. All on penalties. The first two were hosts, Morocco feel like hosts.
Huge credit to Morocco, though. Insane commitment to the block. Let Spain play themselves into a coma knowing they wouldn't wake up in time for penalties.
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Spain Fans Left Frustrated with 'Arrogant' Performance in World Cup Loss to Japan
Dec 1, 2022
DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Pedri (L) of Spain fights for the ball with Takefusa Kubo (R) of Japan during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Japan and Spain at Khalifa International Stadium on December 1, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Khalil Bashar/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Japan upset Spain 2-1 on Thursday in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar at Khalifa International Stadium to claim the top spot in Group E and reach the round of 16.
Álvaro Morata opened the scoring for Spain in the 11th minute with a header from about six yards out, and they entered halftime with a 1-0 lead. However, the team's second-half performance was subpar.
Ritsu Doan tied the game in the 48th minute on a whistling shot from outside the box that beat Unai Simón, and Ao Tanaka scored just minutes later to put Japan up 2-1 in the 51st minute.
Luis Enrique's squad is still advancing to the knockouts despite the loss, sitting second in Group E, beating out Germany on goal difference and Costa Rica on points.
However, it was a frustrating and disappointing loss for Spain, which got lazy in the second half, and journalists and fans are calling their performance against Japan "arrogant."
Spain deserve to be eliminated on this. They got extremely complacent - an arrogant performance where they now can't raise it.
With the win, Japan is now moving on to face Croatia in the round of 16 on Monday, while Spain will face Morocco on Tuesday.
Four other elimination stage matches have also been set. The United States and Netherlands will meet on Saturday, as will Argentina and Australia. France and Poland will go head-to-head on Sunday, along with England and Senegal.
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World Cup 2022 Scores: Thursday's Results and Round-of-16 Schedule
Dec 1, 2022
Morocco's defender #20 Achraf Dari (L) and Morocco's defender #18 Jawad El Yamiq celebrate winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Canada and Morocco at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on December 1, 2022, to advance to the round of 16. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)
Another day of chaotic finishes captured our attention at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Thursday.
Germany was eliminated at the group stage for the second straight tournament despite beating Costa Rica 4-2.
Germany needed a victory and for Spain to defeat Japan in the other game in Group E in order to qualify, but the Samurai Blue won 2-1 over La Roja.
Japan used a second-half comeback against a European giant for the second time this tournament to help earn its place atop Group E. Spain went through as the second-place team.
Japan was the second team to confirm a surprising group victory on the day. In Group F, Morocco's 2-1 win over Canada saw it finish in first place.
A goalless draw between Croatia and Belgium allowed the former to move on in second place. That set up a round-of-16 showdown with Japan.
Morocco thought it would have an easier opponent in the round of 16 as the group winner, but instead, it will face Spain in the next round.
Group E
1. Japan - 6 points
2. Spain - 4 (advanced on goal differential)
3. Germany - 4
4. Costa Rica - 3
Thursday's Scores
Japan 2, Spain 1
Germany 4, Costa Rica 2
Japan followed the same script to beat Spain as it did to defeat Germany in Group E.
The Samurai Blue went 1-0 down in the first half after an Álvaro Morata goal. The 30-year-old scored in every group game for Spain.
As in the win over Germany, Japan used some half-time adjustments to score two goals in quick succession. Ritsu Doan scored the equalizer in the 48th minute versus Spain, just like he did in the 75th minute against Germany.
Japan went ahead in the match three minutes later, when Ao Tanaka finished from close range. The goal had some controversy with it, as the ball appeared to go over the end line before a cross was played into Tanaka.
Spain was unable to pull back an equalizer in the second half, but it still went through on goal differential thanks to its seven-goal outburst in the opener against Costa Rica.
Germany had a gargantuan task on its hands in the second half vs. Costa Rica once Japan went ahead, as it had to make up an eight-goal gap on goal difference to have any hope of progressing.
Germany scored early through Serge Gnabry, but that was the only goal it managed in the opening half.
Costa Rica went ahead through two goals in the 58th and 70th minutes, and for a few minutes, the Ticos were on their way to the round of 16.
COSTA RICA TAKES THE LEAD 🇨🇷
As it stands, Costa Rica is moving on to the knockout stage and both Spain and Germany are eliminated! pic.twitter.com/YY1uYb40jm
The three-goal flurry in the second half did not mean anything to Germany because it was still so far behind on goal differential compared to Spain, who went through with a five-goal edge. La Roja will play Morocco, while Japan gets Croatia in the round of 16.
Group F
1. Morocco - 7
2. Croatia - 5
3. Belgium - 4
4. Canada - 0
Thursday's Scores
Morocco 2, Canada 1
Croatia 0, Belgium 0
Group F produced the most stunning table order of any of the six completed four-team pods.
Morocco became the first team this century from Africa to finish in first place in a World Cup group.
The Atlas Lions surged in front of Canada thanks to a goal each from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri.
Ziyech took advantage of a poor passing sequence from the Canadian defense to open the scoring in the fourth minute. En-Nesyri flew down the right side of the box to coolly finish past Milan Borjan in the 23rd minute.
Canada pulled a goal back in the 40th minute, as Sam Adekugbe's cross took a deflection and rolled in for an own goal.
Canada pushed for an equalizer throughout the second half, but it was unable to earn its first point in Qatar. Canada and the host nation are the only two teams not to earn a point in the group stage.
While Morocco was busy wrapping up first place in Group F, Croatia and Belgium were fighting for the second advancement spot.
Croatia had a goal disallowed because of offside and a penalty-kick decision reversed by the video review system in the first half.
Belgium took control of the match in the second half once Romelu Lukaku stepped on the field. Lukaku had countless opportunities to find the back of the net, but he was unable to convert on any chance, and that led to Belgium being knocked out with a third-place finish.
Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runner-up, advanced with a second-place finish and only conceded one goal in the process. Croatia will be tough for Japan to break down in the round of 16 in what should be a close match.
Round of 16 Schedule
Saturday
Netherlands vs. United States (10 a.m. ET, Fox)
Argentina vs. Australia (2 p.m. ET, Fox)
Sunday
France vs. Poland (10 a.m. ET, FS1)
England vs. Senegal (2 p.m. ET, FS1)
Monday
Japan vs. Croatia (10 a.m. ET, Fox)
Group G winner vs. Group H second place (2 p.m. ET, Fox)
Tuesday
Morocco vs. Spain (10 a.m. ET, Fox)
Group H winner vs. Group G second place (2 p.m. ET, Fox)
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Spain's Dominance in World Cup Opener vs. Costa Rica Applauded by Fans on Twitter
Nov 23, 2022
Spain's forward #10 Marco Asensio reacts after scoring the second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Spain and Costa Rica at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on November 23, 2022. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Spain might have installed itself as the new favorite to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a dominant 7-0 win over Costa Rica on Wednesday in Qatar.
The tournament has already seen Argentina and Germany lose their first games, leading many to wonder whether this could be World Cup that favors the underdogs. Spain had no time to entertain that narrative.
With goals from Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio and Ferran Torres, La Roja were up 3-0 by the 31st minute. Torres added a fourth and his second in the 54th minute.
Spain obviously had a significant talent edge on Costa Rica. The efficiency with which Luis Enrique's squad put its opponents to the sword made a major statement nevertheless.
Only an ageing Costa Rica side but Spain look the real deal. Wonderful blend of flair, technical quality & attacking fluidity. Gavi & Pedri just on another level. Their possession-based style will suck the life out of opponents in this heat. Strong contenders. #ESP
Costa Rica finished with just 18 percent of possession and failed to register a single shot. Los Ticos typically play an ultra-defensive style in major tournaments, but their inability to control the ball was an indicator of Spain's superiority.
Spain completed six more passes in that first half than Wycombe have in League One in November
Yeah okay I get it, Costa Rica are fairly abysmal but it shouldn't take away from the fact that Spain are absolutely imperious right now, the way they move the ball around is mesmerising all down to the main man at the helm, Luis Enrique, looking like serious contenders.
Spain is back in action Sunday to play Germany in what might be the single most anticipated fixture of the group stage.
Considering the stakes for the Germans, they're bound to have some sort of reaction following Wednesday's defeat. Should Spain earn a second victory, it will have cemented itself as the team to beat.
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