FIFA '22 Miss Penalties and You're Gone

Morocco Beat Portugal 1-0 to be in the Final Four of Semis:

The first African or Arab nation to ever reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

As the first half progressed, they opened up and created the best chances of the half, with Youssef En-Nesyri missing two good chances before opening the scoring just before half-time after a goalkeeping mistake from Diogo Costa.

The second half was an exercise of defense against attack, for the large majority. They were put under the cosh by Portugal at different periods but defended for their lives, gave up few opportunities and carried a threat on the counter-attack. The Portuguese struggled to open the up and Morocco had chances to finish the game off on the break, which they didn't take. That set up a tense finale but they pulled through thanks to Bono's superb save from Félix and Pepe's miss right at the death.

This is just the third time that Portugal have reached the quarter-final stage but they'll feel they've missed an opportunity to go further, given that they had what was perceived as a 'favourable' draw. Surely Cristiano Ronaldo, who'll be 41 by the time the 2026 World Cup comes around, will never have another chance to add the World Cup trophy to his collection of honours.

The Next Match Between England vs France for the Place in Semi Finals was such an evenly-fought contest at Al Bayt. France beat England 2-1.

The scourge of missed penalties returned to haunt England last night as their World Cup dreams ended in familiar scenes of tears and shattered dreams.

At the final whistle, as players slumped to the turf and hands covered their faces, the abiding memory was of Gareth Southgate comforting his captain Harry Kane. It was Kane who had the chance to equalize this pulsating quarter-final against France when, with England 2-1 down, he stepped forward from 12 yards out.

But when he blazed over, you could hear the howls of anguish reverberate all the way from Doha to London. The tears of these England players will soon subside. But the sting of this loss will surely linger.

What made this English defeat hurt even more was that this World Cup reeked of enticing possibilities. England’s management team have always believed that France would be their biggest block to glory here in Qatar. But they knew that if they won they would face Morocco, who were 3-1 underdogs before the tournament, in the semi-finals. 

English defeat was sealed in a final 15 minutes laced with impossible tension, Oliver Giroud put France 2-1 ahead – and then for Kane to miss a second penalty that would have probably sent the tie into extra time.

The only goal that England got was through a penalty converted by Harry Kane. Things would have been different had he converted the second penalty as well, but he hit it over the bar and as a result, English would now have to return home empty-handed once again.

This is all for the day about the FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarter Finals as of now. Argentina will take on Croatia on the 13th and France on Morocco on the 14th December in the semis. The winning teams will play the final on 18th December at Lusail Iconic stadium, Qatar.