Just two last-eight slots stay to be stuffed in Qatar after five-time winners Brazil swatted apart South Korea 4-1 and 2018 finalists Croatia squeezed previous Japan by the use of a penalty shoot-out.
Ronaldo was once hogging the headlines on the match even earlier than he kicked a ball after launching a tirade in opposition to Manchester United and their supervisor Erik ten Hag.
Following an go out via “mutual agreement” he’s now in the hunt for a brand new workforce, with assets announcing he’s in talks over a blockbuster maintain Saudi membership Al-Nassr.
The 37-year-old celebrity ahead, who’s showing in what is nearly for sure his final World Cup, has been a shadow of his former self in Qatar regardless of all of the hype.
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After scoring a penalty in his workforce’s opening conflict in opposition to Ghana to develop into the primary participant to attain at 5 World Cups, he has huffed and puffed however has failed to search out the online once more.
Ronaldo’s beginning position within the workforce stays a scorching matter amongst Portugal enthusiasts, however trainer Fernando Santos stated he was once no longer being attentive to the raging debate.
“I don’t read this type of material,” he stated. “It is not a lack of respect, it is simply that we have three days to train for a game and I am not looking at other kinds of news. We focus on the upcoming match.”
Santos stated he anticipated an in depth contest in opposition to Switzerland. Portugal beat the Swiss 4β0 within the UEFA Nations League in June earlier than shedding 1β0 within the opposite fixture.
Morocco are the one closing workforce from Africa, and the one Arab workforce left in Qatar.
Coach Walid Regragui has prompt his males to imagine they are able to defeat powerhouse Spain as they strive to succeed in the World Cup quarter-finals for the primary time of their historical past.
Morocco would develop into simply the fourth African workforce to succeed in the final 8 — after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 — in the event that they beat the 2010 champions.
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“We’ll come out swinging,” stated Regragui. “We want to hoist the Moroccan flag way up. We’re playing first and foremost for us and our country.
“All Arabs and Africans, we wish to lead them to satisfied. We need their prayers and we would like their improve so it can provide us that further component to win. Before it was once simply the Moroccans that supported us.”
Spain started the tournament with a swagger, smashing seven goals past Costa Rica before a draw with Germany and a defeat against South Korea.
Coach Luis Enrique said he set each of his players the “homework” of practicing 1,000 penalties ahead of the World Cup, saying he is convinced they are not a lottery.
Brazil, with Neymar back in the team after injury, put on a first-half masterclass on Monday against South Korea, rocketing into a 4-0 lead in the 36th minute, including a goal for their talisman from the penalty spot.
Paik Seung-ho pulled one back with a thunderbolt late on but his side were outclassed on a disappointing night for Asian football.
Earlier, Luka Modric’s Croatia did it the hard way against Japan, coming back from a goal down to equalize before winning 3β1 on penalties.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero for Croatia, saving three penalties in the shootout.
Seven of Croatia’s past eight knockout games at major tournaments have gone to extra time, the only exception being their defeat in the final by France in Russia four years ago.
Brazil will face Croatia in the quarter-finals on Friday, with the Netherlands taking on Argentina on the same day. England play France on Saturday.