Morocco defeat Spain: Luis Enrique’s penalty homework fails and Hakimi’s masterful game

After an incredibly cagey 120 minutes, Morocco have beaten Spain 3-0 on penalties to reach their first World Cup quarter-final, with Achraf Hakimi scoring the winner with a sumptuous Panenka.

A cushioned volley from substitute Pablo Sarabia almost won it for Spain in the last seconds of extra time. A few inches to the right and it would be Spain into the last eight, instead Morocco progress, where they’ll play the winner of tonight’s Portugal versus Switzerland tie.

Dermot Corrigan, Carl Anka and Liam Tharme analyse the key talking points.

A Panenka followed by a penguin

Achraf Hakimi must have had plenty of thoughts running through his head as he walked up to take Morocco’s fourth penalty.

Born in Madrid to Moroccan parents, he had suffered discrimination in the Spanish capital growing up. The Spanish federation wanted him to play for them, but he was always going to represent his family’s nation.

Now here he was – up against a team and a country he knew so well, and he looked as if he had not a care in the world. 

That Panenka penalty was hit with 100 per cent confidence that it would find the net, and the little penguin dance celebration afterwards made clear just how happy Hakimi was to be the person to put Morocco into a World Cup quarter-final for the first time ever.

Dermot Corrigan

A thousand penalties each isn’t enough

Yesterday, Luis Enrique seemed to boast about the penalty practice his Spain team in preparation for moments like today.

“Over a year ago in my training camps I told my players, ‘You have homework ahead of the World Cup, you need to take 1,000 penalties with your club’.

“You can’t just do it with the national team – I think they have done their homework.

“I don’t think it’s a lottery, it’s specific skills and if you train often, the skill will improve. Obviously you cannot train the pressure or the tension, but it’s a key moment that says a lot about the player, it doesn’t depend on luck.”

Unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough for them.

Dermot Corrigan

Morocco’s defence

In what was just their seventh game under coach Walid Regragui, Morocco kept a sixth clean sheet. They are yet to concede to an opposition player — centre-back Nayef Aguerd’s own goal in the group finale against Canada remains the only blemish on their otherwise perfect defensive record.

African teams winning in World Cup R16

WORLD CUP SCORE

1990

Cameroon 2-1 Colombia (AET)

2002

Senegal 2-1 Sweden (AET)

2010

Ghana 2-1 USA (AET)

2022

Morocco 0-0 Spain (Mor won on pens)

It also means that across four matches at this World Cup, Morocco have now recorded shutouts against Croatia, Belgium and Spain.

In every game they have adapted to their opponent’s attacking structure but have used a 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 shape to prevent central passes and force teams into wide areas, a tactic reflective of Regragui’s 2021-22 African Champions League-winning Wydad Casablanca side.

GO DEEPER

Why Spain will struggle to infiltrate Morocco’s proven defence

Seven shots in 90 minutes was as few as Spain had managed in the group against Germany, those efforts worth just 0.61 in xG and only one being on target — goalkeeper Bono reacted quickly to push Dani Olmo’s goalbound free kick wide in second-half stoppage time, while West Ham’s Aguerd defended the box excellently with clearances and blocks, adapting well to track the forward runs of Alvaro Morata when he replaced Marco Asensio.

It was the only real attacking flurry from Spain across the 120 minutes, with Morocco having controlled the game throughout, even without possession.

Liam Tharme

Morocco’s elite full-backs

There is an incredibly strong argument to be made that Achraf Hakimi, Morocco’s right-back, and Noussair Mazraoui, their left-back, are the best full-back pairing at this tournament.

The two are technical, dynamic, athletic and constantly overlapping their inverted wingers, notably with Mazraoui running beyond Sofiane Boufal and crossing to right-winger Hakim Ziyech at the back post.

Mazraoui is right-footed and plays on that side for his club Bayern Munich, so his stellar first-half display was particularly impressive, though he regularly plays this role for country.

He kept Ferran Torres quiet too, showing control and restraint when one-versus-one and completing both of his attempted tackles in the first half. Only Azzedine Ounahi (seven) had more recoveries for Morocco than Mazraoui’s five.

Hakimi can often be found attacking the back post but is also a key player in build-up, having the most touches (32) and passes attempted (22) in the opening 45 minutes — his free kick did not trouble Unai Simon but the Paris Saint-Germain defender scored multiple direct free-kicks at last winter’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Late in the second half he made a storming run forward and delivered a tantalising cross, but Morocco did not make the most of the chance.

Head coach Walid Regragui has called Hakimi a “warrior”, with Morocco collectively winning 63 per cent of duels in the first half and not conceding a shot on target.

Liam Tharme

Spain’s midfield couldn’t get into gear because Sofyan Amrabat was everywhere. The defensive midfielder, who plies his trade for Fiorentina in Italy, covered every blade of grass, snapping at the heels of Busquets and any other Spaniard who tried click Luis Enrique’s passing midfield into gear.

It was a defensive midfield masterclass from the 26-year-old, making four tackles and an interception, as well as connecting on 78 per cent of his passes.

They say the world is too well connected for a relative unknown to take you by surprise at a World Cup anymore, but for two hours today, Amrabat looked like one of the best midfielders in the world.

Carl Anka

Round of 16 lacks pizzazz (apart from penalties)

After the sugar-rush that was the final round of group games came the crash of the round of 16. Spain had made a touch over 600 passes by the 70-minute mark against Morocco but mustered only one shot on target – which was from a free kick.

This is the nature of knockout football, where “bigger” sides such as Spain look to minimise the chaos in games while smaller sides, such as Morocco, look to maximise whatever pockets of chaos they can find.

One mistake can end your World Cup dreams for another four years, so teams often start games cagily and then end the 90 minutes deciding to see out extra time and take things to penalties.

Spain were sloppy in possession because Morocco were disciplined and diligent when working against the ball; for all of the many passes Rodri and Aymeric Laporte managed in the first half, Spain could not get the ball to Busquets, who was largely nullified by Morocco’s press.

It was a viewing experience not dissimilar to Spain’s game against hosts Russia at this same stage of the previous World Cup in 2018 (they lost that on penalties too).

There is a blueprint for scuppering Spanish teams in knockout ties. It’s not easy, or enjoyable viewing, but it gives you a fighting chance.

Carl Anka

Boufal’s box of tricks

He uses the ball as a carrot, before turning his body into a stick to beat you with.

Just past the 21st minute, Sofiane Boufal got onto the ball and made Marcos Llorente sing for his supper. A little drag back lured the Atletico Madrid player in, before a quick step left and a head feint right bamboozled him and Boufal went skipping away.

Southampton fans were often frustrated by spindly winger that is Boufal, who registered only five goals and five assists across two and a bit seasons at their club. He did score one of their best goals in the 21st century against West Bromich Albion, but was also out for several weeks once after stubbing his big toe on his coffee table.

Boufal’s great skill as a winger comes from his deacceleration, momentarily hesitating when on the ball to suck in a defender before leaving them for dust with a feint or trick move. By half-time here, he had five successful dribbles and had created Morocco’s best chances.

Morocco have a collection of players who are neither here nor there for their clubs, yet are capable of turning an international match on its head. When Boufal is on, he is really on.

Carl Anka

Llorente selection call doesn’t work

Marcos Llorente came into the Spain XI as their third different right-back of this World Cup. It was a selection call by Luis Enrique which just did not work.

Other options Dani Carvajal and Cesar Azpilicueta have had fitness issues in recent weeks, but Spain assistant coach Rafel Pol said pre-game the decision had been tactical.

Using midfielder-by-trade Llorente in the back four only makes sense if he’s regularly haring forward and getting in behind or around Morocco’s defensive lines. But over the first 45 minutes, he never once got to do that, instead taking up cautious positions when Spain had possession, with some clumsy touches contributing to his team not circulating the ball quickly enough to worry a well-organised defence.

And going backwards, Llorente struggled badly, showing why he himself much prefers to play as a midfielder.

Boufal tricked his way twice past the one-time Real Madrid youth teamer twice in the opening stages, and was Morocco’s best attacking threat through the first half.

Dermot Corrigan

(Top photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)