Cristiano Ronaldo, Arsenal ace and one-time West Ham duo in Portugal’s last World Cup XI v Morocco

08/12/2022 23:00

Portugal face Morocco in the 2022 Qatar World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday in just their third-ever meeting. So, who started their last game and what is their head-to-head record?

Well, their last match also came at a World Cup with Cristiano Ronaldo guiding the Selecao to a 1-0 win. FIFA drew Portugal and Morocco in Group B for Russia 2018 beside Spain and Iran. The governing body also set the Selecao and Atlas Lions to meet in their second ties.

Ronaldo inspired Portugal to a 3-3 draw with Spain in their opening fixture four years ago with a hat-trick. He would then net the only effort as Fernando Santos’ Selecao met Herve Renard’s Atlas Lions in Moscow. It took the striker just four minutes to break the deadlock.

Portugal started well at the Luzhniki Stadium and reaped the rewards when Ronaldo dived to head home Joao Moutinho’s delivery. The 1-0 result in the Euro 2016 champions’ favour also saw Morocco crash out of the 2018 World Cup. They had already lost 1-0 against Iran.

Spain’s 1-0 win over Iran – who only beat Morocco through a 95th-minute own goal by Aziz Bouhaddouz – meant the Atlas Lions were the first team eliminated from Russia 2018. But under Walid Regragui, the North Africans are now enjoying their best World Cup run ever.

What is Portugal and Morocco’s all-time head-to-head record?

The 2018 World Cup threw up just the second match between Portugal and Morocco, who now meet at Qatar 2022 in the quarter-finals. The two sides head to Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday, December 10 for a chance to face either England or France in the semi-finals.

Portugal and Morocco currently share an identical head-to-head record ahead of their final-eight clash. Both nations have won one of their previous two games. Morocco also secured theirs during a World Cup finals after beating the Selecao 3-1 in Group F at Mexico 1986.

Abdelrazze Khairi (18’, 27’) and Abdelkarim Krimau (61’) scored as Morocco won their final first-round fixture. Diamantino (79’) would pull one back in the closing stages but he would not prevent Portugal from finishing last in Group F. The Atlas Lions finished top to England.

Mexico 1986 marked the first time Morocco had ever made the second round at the World Cup. They crashed out in the group stages during 1970, 1994, 1998 and 2018. But Regragui taking them to the quarter-finals at Qatar 2022 is writing history with their best result yet.

Morocco will now hope to continue a dream stretch that has seen the Atlas Lions eliminate 2010 World Cup winners Spain by beating Portugal. They won a 0-0 Round of 16 tie with La Roja after extra time 3-0 on penalties. The Selecao thrashed Switzerland 6-1 in the last 16.

So, as Portugal and Morocco prepare to add a third game to their head-to-head record that has a win each, HITC Football looks back to their last match and who the Selecao started…

Rui Patricio (GK): Wolves signed the Portugal ace right before he beat Morocco

Rui Patricio helped Portugal put a win in their head-to-head record against Morocco at the 2018 World Cup. The goalkeeper started all four of the Selecao’s fixtures in Russia but only shut the Atlas Lions out. Uruguay eliminated Portugal in the Round of 16 with a 2-1 result.

Wolves sealed a deal to sign Patricio from Sporting Lisbon two days before the 105-cap ace faced Morocco at Russia 2018. The 34-year-old is now in Qatar as a backup option and as an AS Roma star. He joined the Serie A side for £10m in July 2021 after 127 Wolves games.

Cedric Soares (RB): He cannot impact Portugal and Morocco’s head-to-head record

Cedric Soares cannot impact Portugal and Morocco’s head-to-head record again in 2022 in the World Cup quarter-finals. The defender – who joined Arsenal for free in 2020 – has not added to his 34 caps since March 2021. He has also only featured twice since Russia 2018.

Pepe (CB): Morocco will have to beat him to improve their head-to-head record

Morocco will once again have to try and beat Pepe to improve their head-to-head record with Portugal. Despite turning 40 in February, the FC Porto star has played 270 minutes in Qatar. He also scored and captained the Selecao during the 6-1 demolition of Switzerland.

Jose Fonte (CB): Santos has started to move on from the Lille skipper

Jose Fonte is still going strong at 38 years old as LOSC Lille’s captain after joining the Ligue 1 side in 2018. But Portugal boss Santos has not named the former Southampton and West Ham United defender in any of his teams since the Selecao’s UEFA play-off for Qatar 2022.

Raphael Guerreiro (LB): 60 caps, four goals after striking against Switzerland

Raphael Guerreiro enjoyed his 60th appearance for Portugal as they thrashed Switzerland in the Round of 16 at Qatar 2022. The 28-year-old Borussia Dortmund star also produced just his fourth goal yet in the match. He has provided 13 assists across all competitions so far.

William Carvalho (CDM): Santos has a decision to make ahead of facing Morocco

Santos has a decision to make over William Carvalho’s involvement in another World Cup match with Morocco. The Portugal boss has dipped the Real Betis midfielder in and out of his squad in Qatar. It is also the 30-year-old’s fifth major tournament and third World Cup.

Bernardo Silva (RM): Morocco will try to silence the Portuguese star again

Morocco will try to silence Bernardo Silva again to improve their head-to-head record with Portugal. The 28-year-old Manchester City star is yet to score or lay on an assist over eight career World Cup games. None of his eight goals and 24 assists have come at Euros, either.

Joao Moutinho (CM): Wolves raided Monaco after Portugal beat Morocco

Wolves continued their 2018 signing spree with a £5m deal with AS Monaco for Moutinho. The 36-year-old agreed to join the Molineux outfit on the back of assisting Ronaldo at the World Cup. It was one of 26 assists the 146-cap midfielder laid on between 2005 and 2022.

Joao Mario (LM): One-time West Ham loanee has a bit-part role at Qatar 2022

Santos took one-time West Ham loanee Joao Mario to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. But the 29-year-old now at Benfica has so far only featured twice and started once from four games. Mario also hit his third goal over 55 caps in a pre-tournament friendly with Nigeria.

Goncalo Guedes (ST): Santos opted to leave the £27.5m star at Wolves this winter

Santos opted against taking Goncalo Guedes to successive World Cups and left the winger at Wolves this winter. He joined the Molineux side from Valencia for £27.5m in August. But the 32-cap ace has only offered one goal and one assist in 12 Premier League games so far.

Cristiano Ronaldo (ST): Portugal deny their captain threatened to walk out

Portugal would have wanted their focus to be on adding another win to their head-to-head record with Morocco ahead of facing the Atlas Lions in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.

Yet, instead, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has denied their captain threatened to leave the squad in a statement. Ronaldo spoke with Santos after being dropped to the bench against Switzerland, who conceded a hat-trick by Goncalo Ramos in Ronaldo’s void.

Ronaldo had the only goal as Portugal put a win in their head-to-head record with Morocco at the 2018 World Cup. He has also fired once at Qatar 2022 so far against Ghana in Group H. But the 195-cap icon is still yet to score in a knockout stage match over five World Cups.

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