All Article Properties:
{
"access_control": false,
"status": "publish",
"objectType": "Article",
"id": "1489815",
"signature": "Article:1489815",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-07-morocco-success-secures-arab-world-its-first-world-cup-quarterfinalist/",
"shorturl": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/1489815",
"slug": "morocco-success-secures-arab-world-its-first-world-cup-quarterfinalist",
"contentType": {
"id": "1",
"name": "Article",
"slug": "article"
},
"views": 0,
"comments": 0,
"preview_limit": null,
"excludedFromGoogleSearchEngine": 0,
"title": "Morocco success secures Arab world its first World Cup quarterfinalist",
"firstPublished": "2022-12-07 13:13:24",
"lastUpdate": "2022-12-07 13:13:24",
"categories": [
{
"id": "30",
"name": "Sport",
"signature": "Category:30",
"slug": "sport",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/sport/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
},
{
"id": "387188",
"name": "Maverick News",
"signature": "Category:387188",
"slug": "maverick-news",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/maverick-news/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
}
],
"content_length": 4056,
"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco rode a wave of passionate support and kept the World Cup dreams of the Arab world alive as they eliminated fancied Spain in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In doing so, they became the first Arab nation to advance to the last eight, ensuring a breakthrough for the region in the first global tournament in the Middle East, and also became the fourth African side to go this far in World Cup history.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their victory will be seen as not only a triumph for Morocco but somewhat of a vindication of the controversial Fifa decision to hand Qatar the hosting rights. It has also added significant gloss to another Arab success at the tournament after Saudi Arabia beat Argentina and Tunisia upset holders France in the group phase.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco, who edged Spain 3-0 in the shootout after a 0-0 draw at the end of two hours of energy-sapping action, now have a chance to become both the Arab nations’ and Africa’s first-ever semifinalists if they continue to use the overwhelming support that has backed them through an impressive array of results.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1489696\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447297933.jpg\" alt=\"Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /> Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco battles for possession with Ferran Torres of Spain during the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on 6 December, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They will play on Saturday in the quarter-final at Doha’s Al Thumama stadium against Portugal, who steamrolled Switzerland 6-1 in the final round of 16 encounter.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ear-shattering cacophonic combination of singing, drumming, jeering and whistling from Morocco’s supporters has created an atmosphere like no other in Qatar’s stadiums.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They were again the vast majority in the capacity 44,667 crowd at the Education City stadium, completely drowning out the Spain fans.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no ambiguity about their support as they cheer their team and barrack the opposition in equal measure, and the Moroccan players often turn to them for a lift when needed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco were happy to allow Spain possession but in the end, were desperately hanging on for the shootout as they battled injury and fatigue and lived dangerously in the closing stages.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain had a dominant 63% of the possession in the game and, even given the 30 minutes of extra time, made an extraordinary 1,068 passes, 988 of them successfully completed.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1489698\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307585.jpg\" alt=\"Pedri of Spain is tackled by Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco \" width=\"720\" height=\"501\" /> Pedri of Spain is tackled by Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco 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 Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We had agreed not to take possession — not out of fear. We are humble enough to say that we are not yet France, Germany or England, to compete with them in terms of possession,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Nobody managed to steal the ball from them, so I accepted not having the ball. I'’m not a magician.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It mattered little though as most of the Spanish passes shuffled from one side to another, rarely producing the penetrative pass the Europeans were looking for.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1489700 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307616.jpg\" alt=\"Spain vs Morocco\" width=\"720\" height=\"513\" /> Spain react during the penalty shootout in the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on 6 December, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco had moments of enterprise on the counter-attack and were carried by the individual efforts of the likes of midfield destroyer Sofyan Amrabat and wing backs Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They will however be mightily concerned to have lost centre-back Nayef Aguerd, who limped off in tears in the second half, having just made the World Cup after ankle surgery kept him out for most of the season at his new English club West Ham United.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One thing they can count on though is the continued support of the army of red that will sweep in for their important clash against Portugal. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
"teaser": "Morocco success secures Arab world its first World Cup quarterfinalist",
"externalUrl": "",
"sponsor": null,
"authors": [
{
"id": "62418",
"name": "Mark Gleeson",
"image": "",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/author/markgleeson/",
"editorialName": "markgleeson",
"department": "",
"name_latin": ""
}
],
"description": "",
"keywords": [
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "6178",
"name": "Sports",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/sports/",
"slug": "sports",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Sports",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "8130",
"name": "Morocco",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/morocco/",
"slug": "morocco",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Morocco",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "10323",
"name": "Spain",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/spain/",
"slug": "spain",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Spain",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "371582",
"name": "Luis Enrique",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/luis-enrique/",
"slug": "luis-enrique",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Luis Enrique",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "376977",
"name": "Achraf Hakimi",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/achraf-hakimi/",
"slug": "achraf-hakimi",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Achraf Hakimi",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "389173",
"name": "Mark Gleeson",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/mark-gleeson/",
"slug": "mark-gleeson",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Mark Gleeson",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "391149",
"name": "Qatar 2022 World Cup",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/qatar-2022-world-cup/",
"slug": "qatar-2022-world-cup",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Qatar 2022 World Cup",
"translations": null
}
}
],
"short_summary": null,
"source": null,
"related": [],
"options": [],
"attachments": [
{
"id": "76705",
"name": "AL RAYYAN, QATAR - DECEMBER 06: Spain react during the penalty shootout in 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 Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco rode a wave of passionate support and kept the World Cup dreams of the Arab world alive as they eliminated fancied Spain in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In doing so, they became the first Arab nation to advance to the last eight, ensuring a breakthrough for the region in the first global tournament in the Middle East, and also became the fourth African side to go this far in World Cup history.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their victory will be seen as not only a triumph for Morocco but somewhat of a vindication of the controversial Fifa decision to hand Qatar the hosting rights. It has also added significant gloss to another Arab success at the tournament after Saudi Arabia beat Argentina and Tunisia upset holders France in the group phase.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco, who edged Spain 3-0 in the shootout after a 0-0 draw at the end of two hours of energy-sapping action, now have a chance to become both the Arab nations’ and Africa’s first-ever semifinalists if they continue to use the overwhelming support that has backed them through an impressive array of results.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1489696\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1489696\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447297933.jpg\" alt=\"Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /> Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco battles for possession with Ferran Torres of Spain during the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on 6 December, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They will play on Saturday in the quarter-final at Doha’s Al Thumama stadium against Portugal, who steamrolled Switzerland 6-1 in the final round of 16 encounter.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ear-shattering cacophonic combination of singing, drumming, jeering and whistling from Morocco’s supporters has created an atmosphere like no other in Qatar’s stadiums.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They were again the vast majority in the capacity 44,667 crowd at the Education City stadium, completely drowning out the Spain fans.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no ambiguity about their support as they cheer their team and barrack the opposition in equal measure, and the Moroccan players often turn to them for a lift when needed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco were happy to allow Spain possession but in the end, were desperately hanging on for the shootout as they battled injury and fatigue and lived dangerously in the closing stages.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain had a dominant 63% of the possession in the game and, even given the 30 minutes of extra time, made an extraordinary 1,068 passes, 988 of them successfully completed.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1489698\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1489698\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307585.jpg\" alt=\"Pedri of Spain is tackled by Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco \" width=\"720\" height=\"501\" /> Pedri of Spain is tackled by Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco 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 Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We had agreed not to take possession — not out of fear. We are humble enough to say that we are not yet France, Germany or England, to compete with them in terms of possession,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Nobody managed to steal the ball from them, so I accepted not having the ball. I'’m not a magician.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It mattered little though as most of the Spanish passes shuffled from one side to another, rarely producing the penetrative pass the Europeans were looking for.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1489700\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"wp-image-1489700 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307616.jpg\" alt=\"Spain vs Morocco\" width=\"720\" height=\"513\" /> Spain react during the penalty shootout in the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on 6 December, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco had moments of enterprise on the counter-attack and were carried by the individual efforts of the likes of midfield destroyer Sofyan Amrabat and wing backs Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They will however be mightily concerned to have lost centre-back Nayef Aguerd, who limped off in tears in the second half, having just made the World Cup after ankle surgery kept him out for most of the season at his new English club West Ham United.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One thing they can count on though is the continued support of the army of red that will sweep in for their important clash against Portugal. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
"focal": "50% 50%",
"width": 0,
"height": 0,
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg",
"transforms": [
{
"x": "200",
"y": "100",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/ZU9ipIy7HyPy9vYBhKP7LIXUpuQ=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg"
},
{
"x": "450",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/6YodD-razatV-kbUjSk7Xsr4CmM=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg"
},
{
"x": "800",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/pKR4xAl3bbXAC5RTcFkChx6DRxI=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1200",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/TLEZHE-zeW1SbYKckY5282S-HNY=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1600",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/AYTwz6kWzxfnRdVgp_ydmpBDg9Y=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg"
}
],
"url_thumbnail": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/ZU9ipIy7HyPy9vYBhKP7LIXUpuQ=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg",
"url_medium": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/6YodD-razatV-kbUjSk7Xsr4CmM=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg",
"url_large": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/pKR4xAl3bbXAC5RTcFkChx6DRxI=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg",
"url_xl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/TLEZHE-zeW1SbYKckY5282S-HNY=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg",
"url_xxl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/AYTwz6kWzxfnRdVgp_ydmpBDg9Y=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1447307615.jpg",
"type": "image"
}
],
"summary": "Morocco’s dream of becoming the first African nation to reach the Fifa World Cup semifinals remains alive after an exciting 3-0 penalty shootout victory over Spain.",
"template_type": null,
"dm_custom_section_label": null,
"elements": [],
"seo": {
"search_title": "Morocco success secures Arab world its first World Cup quarterfinalist",
"search_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco rode a wave of passionate support and kept the World Cup dreams of the Arab world alive as they eliminated fancied Spain in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to rea",
"social_title": "Morocco success secures Arab world its first World Cup quarterfinalist",
"social_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morocco rode a wave of passionate support and kept the World Cup dreams of the Arab world alive as they eliminated fancied Spain in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to rea",
"social_image": ""
},
"cached": true,
"access_allowed": true
} 
Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco battles for possession with Ferran Torres of Spain during the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on 6 December, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Pedri of Spain is tackled by Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco 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 Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Spain react during the penalty shootout in the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on 6 December, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)