Morocco dumped from World Cup by Ronaldo's Portugal
Morocco is the first country to be eliminated from the World Cup after failing to wipe away Cristiano Ronaldo's early header for Portugal on Wednesday.
The Atlas Lions were the most positive side in Moscow, but their repeated efforts to get back on level terms were successfully thwarted by the Euro 2016 holder.
Ronaldo's fourth-minute winner was another to be scored from a set-piece in Russia. A short corner was rolled to Joao Moutinho, whose cross found a stooped Ronaldo. To say Morocco's defending looked a little disorganised would be an understatement.
Dating back to the 2014 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has been directly involved in Portugal’s last six goals and scored their last five. Which means he’s been directly responsible for eight points in Portugal’s last four World Cup games.
— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) June 20, 2018
Morocco had a series of half-chances to equalise, with many falling to defender Mehdi Benatia. One player earning plenty of plaudits was Nordin Amrabat - whose removal of protective headwear during the fixture was flagged up by FIFPro as potentially breaching concussion protocol following his bump in Morocco's defeat to Iran - and plenty will bemoan the loss of Ajax's Hakim Ziyech from the tournament, who was widely tipped as a potential breakout star.
Morocco was competing in its first World Cup since 1998, when it also fell before the knockout rounds after being drawn in a group with eventual finalist Brazil, Egil Orsen's Norway, and a Scotland team featuring Colin Hendry and John Collins.