Kick-off in Morocco’s quarterfinals against Portugal, Ronaldo and Mazraoui are missing

Kick-off in Morocco’s quarterfinals against Portugal, Ronaldo and Mazraoui are missing

Morocco’s quarter-final against Portugal has begun. At 4 p.m. the Portuguese kicked off in Qatar. Later in the evening, France will take on England.

Both national teams have notable absentees: Cristiano Ronaldo is again on the bench with Portugal, just like during the round of 16 against Switzerland. Gonçalo plays Ramos instead. Morocco is missing former Ajax player Noussair Mazraoui, who is ill and injured.

FIFA starts disciplinary proceedings against Dutch and Argentinian players

FIFA has started disciplinary proceedings following the behavior of the Argentinian and Dutch players and coaches in the quarterfinals that Argentina won against the Netherlands on Friday evening. The world football association announced this on Saturday, reports the AP news agency. The football players and coaches may have violated “order and security measures”.

During the match, tempers repeatedly ran high between the players. Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz handed out no less than eighteen yellow cards, once Argentina was allowed to take a penalty kick in regular playing time. That is more than the sixteen cards that fell during the infamous 2006 World Cup match of the Netherlands against Portugal. Denzel Dumfries was sent off after the match.

The Dutch and Argentine football associations may face a fine of 15,000 Swiss francs, the equivalent of 15,210 euros. Argentina can get a higher fine than the Netherlands, because the players and coaches are suspected of more violations. It is not known when the disciplinary investigation will be completed. Saudi Arabia was fined twice during the World Cup in Qatar.

Why Moroccan footballers from the diaspora often prefer to represent their parents’ country

Ashraf Hakimi, one of the best right-backs in the world, grew up in a suburb of Madrid. Yet he does not play for Spain, but for Morocco, the country where his parents come from. And so the Moroccan football selection is home to more players who grew up in Europe, but will represent the Atlas Lions in the quarterfinals of the World Cup against Portugal on Saturday. When asked about the reasons for this, they often talk about a lack of respect and equal opportunities.

More than half of the 26 players of the Moroccan national team were not born in Morocco. No other team at the tournament in Qatar has more players who come from abroad. The semi-final starts at 4 p.m. in which Morocco will compete against Portugal.

5.6 million viewers for quarter final against Argentina, best watched match this World Cup

More than 5.6 million people tuned in last night for the quarterfinals between the Netherlands and Argentina. This is evident from figures from the Stichting Kijkonderzoek (SKO) on Saturday. The match was by far the most watched program of the evening, and of the entire World Cup so far.

The Orange fell 0-2 against the Argentinians. In the final phase of the game, the Netherlands came back through substitute Wout Weghorst, who scored twice. Both teams went into extra time 2-2. Argentina turned out to be better in the penalty shootout: Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis missed on behalf of the Orange.

The last meeting between the Netherlands and Argentina before Friday led to a viewing figure record at the time. More than 9 million people watched that semi-final at the 2014 World Cup. And that while the game only started at 10 p.m. Just like last night, the Orange lost on penalties at the time.

This year’s World Cup attracts fewer viewers than previous editions. But the years are difficult to compare, according to SKO. It is the first major football tournament to take place in the winter, and the foundation bases its figures only on households that have a special box near their own television. So it only concerns home viewers. The foundation is working on a new method.

Welcome to this blog

After two blood-curdling quarter-finals, both of which had to be decided by penalties, it is now time for Morocco against Portugal and England against France.

Morocco caused a resounding surprise by knocking out Spain on penalties. Portugal was too strong for Switzerland and is a light favorite for the match, which will be played at 4 p.m.

England will play against France at 8 p.m. England was 3-0 too strong for Senegal in the round of 16, where France defeated Poland 3-1.