World Cup 2022: Brazil get their groove on as the last-16 ties conclude – live
Brazil #Brazil
Morocco have never made it beyond the second round before, but come into this game unbeaten and only having conceded one goal. Selim Amallah is in for Abdelhamid Sabiri in the only change to the team that beat Canada 2-1 last time out.
Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss (c), Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah, Azzedine Ounahi, Hakim Ziyech, Soufiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri
Spain are having an odd World Cup, having absolutely thumped Costa Rica to set down a marker, then ended up only narrowly squeaking through their group thanks to that shock defeat against Japan. They are seeking their first quarter-final berth since they won the thing in 2010. Llorente and Laporte are back in the side, but Morata drops to the bench, which won’t do much for his golden boot aspirations. Pedri, Marco Asensio and Ferran Torres are also all back in the starting XI.
Spain: Unai Simon, Marcos Llorente, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets (c), Gavi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio
The officials today are referee Fernando Andrés Rapallini (Argentina) being assisted by compatriots Juan Pablo Belatti and Diego Yamil Bonfá. The fourth official with that humdinger of a sponsored sign to hold up will be Raphael Claus of Brazil.
At the controls for the MBM action for us is John Brewin …
Related: Morocco v Spain: World Cup 2022 last 16 – live
I’ll be keeping this blog running until kick-off to mop up any other World Cup news as it emerges.