Morocco for the first in their footballing history will play at the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup after defeating former world champions Spain 3 – 0 in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Yassine Bounou or “Bono” was the hero for the North Africans after he kept out 3 penalty kicks including one from the boot of Sergio Busquets. There were tears of joy on the faces of the emotional Moroccan supporters in the stands.
Walid Regragui was appointed as coach of the Atlas Lions as recent as September but he has inputed his philosophy into his team and he may just have given Morocco their greatest result in the footballing history.
The game between Morocco and Spain which is a derby in its own rights because both countries are just separate by 14km off the Strait of Gibraltar was not short of events in normal and extra time. Pablo Sarabia could have won the game for Spain in the dying stages of extra time but his efforts could only hit the post. Sarabia would later miss his own penalty during the shootout during which Spain missed 3 straight penalties. Moroccan player, Badr Benoun missed his but it could stop one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history.
Morocco will play the winners of the last round of 16 game between Portugal and Switzerland Saturday, December 10th.
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