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☆ Morocco's round of 16 success is no fluke
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Atlas Lions had roared to stun 2010 World Cup winner Spain and reach the quarterfinals of Qatar 2022. “Now it is the Africans and Arabs.”For many, it was the shock of the tournament, as the North Africans won their first ever knockout game at a World Cup. Many Moroccans thought that it could be after the World Cup or in a few years, but none were unhappy when it was announced he would take over the national side less than 100 days before their first game at the World Cup. In African football, Regragui has often been compared with José Mourinho thanks to his tactical discipline and stellar man-management skills. Morocco’s success at the World Cup may be best story of the tournament so far, but it is not the not the result of luck and grit, but rather expertise and planning.

☆ World Cup Round of 16: Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal face Switzerland for a place in the quarterfinals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Switzerland, meanwhile, navigated a difficult group with victories against Cameroon and Serbia seeing them through to the knockout stages despite a loss to Brazil. The last time the two sides met was in the Nations League in June when Portugal dismantled Switzerland 4-0 in Lisbon. Switzerland celebrates defeating Serbia 3-2 and qualifying for the knockout stages. Like Portugal, Spain is entering its round of 16 match against Morocco immediately after a shock defeat to an Asian nation – a 2-1 loss to Japan – in the group stages. “We said we wanted to give everything we’ve got to get out of the group stages,” said Regragui, according to the Guardian.

☆ Croatia beats Japan on penalties to reach World Cup quarterfinals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +28 min

CNN —Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made himself a national hero as Croatia beat Japan on penalties 1-1 (3-1) to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. Marko Djurica/ReutersJapan’s heartbreakDespite its defeat, Japan can look back at an impressive World Cup campaign. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Mbappé was one of the leading stars of the team's World Cup triumph four years ago. He also became just the third goalkeeper to save three penalties in a single World Cup shootout.

☆ Morocco's 'avocado head' plots another World Cup shock
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Shady Amir | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Spain, who humbled Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening game, finished second in Group E behind Japan while Morocco defied the odds to win Group F ahead of Croatia and Belgium. The Spanish, world champions in 2010, lost their last group match to Japan and face a difficult test from a Moroccan side growing in confidence under coach Walid Regragui. Spain drew 1-1 with Germany following their rout of Costa Rica and after the loss to Japan coach Luis Enrique was critical of his team. This was impossible because in five minutes, Japan scored two goals ... we were out, we were dismantled," he said. In the first half against Costa Rica, Spain's 537 successful passes set a World Cup record but they will need to show more cutting edge to stay on course for a second world title.

☆ France reaches World Cup quarterfinals with 3-1 victory over Poland as Kylian Mbappé breaks Pelé’s record
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +30 min

CNN —France was made to work hard for its place in the World Cup quarterfinals, overcoming an improved Poland side 3-1 thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé. That is Mbappé’s fifth goal of Qatar 2022 and already his ninth World Cup goal overall, breaking Pelé’s record of seven World Cup goals scored before the age of 24. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Issei Kato/Reuters Kylian Mbappé scores his second goal on November 26, leading France to a 2-1 victory over Denmark. Mbappé was one of the leading stars of the team's World Cup triumph four years ago.

☆ USMNT’s youth and talent at Qatar 2022 bodes well for 2026 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +31 min

The Netherlands knocked the USMNT out of the Qatar World Cup on Saturday. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Frappert became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament. Qatar is the first Islamic country to host a World Cup.

☆ Japan vs. Croatia: Samurai Blue aiming to reach World Cup quarterfinals for first time
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +31 min

CNN —In a World Cup of surprises, Japan has played a leading role in headline-making shock results. Croatia is a team undefeated in nine of its last 10 World Cup matches. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Frappert became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament.

☆ Morocco cruise into knockout stage with 2-1 win over Canada
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Morocco, who needed a win or a draw in their final Group F match to reach the knockout rounds, took advantage of a weak clearance by goalkeeper Milan Borjan that landed on the foot of Hakim Ziyech. With Croatia drawing with Belgium 0-0 in the other Group F game, Morocco finish first in the group and will face the second-place finishers in Group E, which is made up of Japan, Spain, Germany and Costa Rica. Moroccan manager Walid Regragui predicted his side will prove capable of challenging a mighty opponent in the stage. Why shouldn't we dream of winning the World Cup?" Canada, who are exiting their first World Cup since 1986 without a point, automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament as co-hosts along with the United States and Mexico.

In earlier matches they had tied with Croatia and scored a surprise win over Belgium, the second-ranked team in the world. "This team can go all the way in this World Cup!" In Qatar, where the home team along with Saudi Arabia and Tunisia have already been knocked out, Morocco now carries the mantle for an Arab world that has cheered victories by Arab teams against some of the tournament favourites. FIFA and Qatar's World Cup organisers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the crowding outside the stadium. Morocco's last World Cup appearance, four years ago, ended in the group stage.

Against Belgium, man of the match Ziyech showed what the team was missing in a brilliant performance that helped Morocco to their first World Cup victory since beating Scotland 3-0 in 1998. "He is incredible, the spirit he has, coming back to the national team," a jubilant Regragui said. "A lot of people talk about him, say he is crazy and difficult to manage, that he can't help the team. Ziyech had Morocco's first shot on goal in the second half, and was allowed to move freely between the lines in the front third, tormenting the Belgian defence. Another substitute, Abdelhamid Sabiri, struck the shot that touched captain Romain Saiss on its way in for the first goal.

☆ Regragui tells Belgian-born Morocco players to stay focused
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Manasi Pathak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has warned the Belgian-born players in his squad to stay focused when they face Roberto Martinez's men in the World Cup on Sunday, saying they risk costly mistakes if they get emotional on a "special" occasion. "For any dual national .. they have a special emotion and that's a positive energy and you have to draw on that," Regragui told reporters on Saturday. Morocco are tied with Croatia on one point, with Belgium the leaders on three points and Canada bottom with zero. "He is out for now but hopefully he will back for tomorrow," Regragui said. Morocco beat Belgium 4-1 the last time the teams met in 2008 in an international friendly.

☆ Saudi win over Argentina inspires Morocco on eve of Croatia clash
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Simon Jennings | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Saudis, the second-lowest ranked team at the World Cup and coached by former Morocco boss Herve Renard, beat Lionel Messi's Argentina 2-1 to deliver one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history. Morocco are 10 places below 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia in the world rankings and Regragui said his team were inspired by the way the Saudis had outplayed Argentina. "If Croatia doesn't allow us to have full possession tomorrow, OK, then we need to be very strong at the back. He's shown us what we can do and I hope we'll be able to feel the same as Saudi Arabia." Morocco captain Romain Saiss said the Saudi win proved once again that anything was possible in football.

☆ Group's E and F get underway with Belgium, Germany and Spain in action
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Germany will face a Japan team full of names familiar to fans around the world. For Costa Rica, it is a last hurrah for some of the country’s legendary players. So, with one final shot at glory, Belgium begin against a Canada side making its second appearance at a World Cup. Canada ended its 36-year drought to play in a World Cup when it qualified earlier this year. ETSpain vs. Costa Rica: 11 a.m.

☆ Burnley winger Zaroury called up by Morocco for injured Harit
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 16 (Reuters) - Burnley winger Anass Zaroury has been called up by Morocco coach Walid Regragui for his World Cup squad in place of injured forward Amine Harit, the Moroccan FA said on Wednesday. Marseille's Harit sustained a knee injury during a Ligue 1 match against AS Monaco on Sunday, which later turned out to be a sprain of the cruciate ligaments of the left knee. read more"Zaroury's call-up was made official following his official qualification by FIFA on Wednesday," the Moroccan FA said on its website. Morocco start their World Cup campaign on Nov. 23 against Croatia and also face Belgium and Canada in Group F.Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Every World Cup 2022 squad announced: USMNT, Germany, Belgium and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —‘Tis the season for wall charts and fans gathering around to pick their starting teams for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, he scores three goals in World Cup qualifying and isn’t going to be a part of the program. Again, it’s more about who we did add that we felt good about.”All but one of the 26 will be making their World Cup debut at this year’s tournament and, according to the USMNT, it will be the youngest team to qualify for the World Cup. Octavio Passos/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesGhanaManager: Otto AddoThe final squad has not been announced yet. READ: Meet Otto Addo, the coach responsible for guiding some of Europe’s brightest young talents (2021)—–PortugalManager: Fernando SantosThe final squad has not been announced yet.

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