The final two last-16 fixtures of the 2022 World Cup are taking place today, with fans hoping for a repeat of a dramatic pair of games on Monday.
Yesterday we saw Croatia edgd out Japan on penalties, before Brazil turned on the style to score four in the first half as they blew South Korea away.
After today, there’s a two-day break before the quarter-finals, and England’s much-anticipated clash with France – but first there are a pair of knock-out clashes to enjoy, starting with Spain…
What time is Morocco vs Spain?
Morocco vs Spain kicks off at 3pm (UK time – Qatar is three hours ahead) on Tuesday 6 December from the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.
It is being shown live on ITV, with the build-up coverage starting at 2pm, as is Portugal vs Switzerland, the final game of the World Cup’s first knockout round, which kicks off at 7pm today.
The 2022 World Cup is being broadcast entirely on free-to-air television in the UK, with BBC and ITV sharing the rights.
This means that matches are therefore also available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer or, as in the case of today’s two clashes, the new ITVX streaming platform.
What can you expect from Morocco vs Spain?
Morocco go into their clash with Spain as clear underdogs. However, they shocked Belgium with a 2-0 group stage victory to book a last-16 place, and have promised to “come out swinging” today.
That result came after they had already held 2018 finalists Croatia to a goalless draw, and Walid Regragui’s side are likely to enjoy the majority of the support at the Education City Stadium after winning Group F.
Their manager believes the Atlas Lions are now playing for the whole of the African continent and the Arab world: “We will come in with a winner’s attitude, we will come out swinging.
“We want to hoist our Moroccan flag way up high, first and foremost for us and our country and yes, for all Arabs and Africans – we want to make them happy. We want their prayers and we want their support.
“Spain have a lot of experience, we haven’t been here for 36 years. It’s important for us to put our emotions aside and pull out all the stops. The great nations are here and it’s important for us to give them a run for their money.”
More on World Cup 2022
What World Cup games are on TV today, and when to watch Portugal and Spain live06 December, 2022
Opinion | After an alcohol-free World Cup we should consider banning booze at Premier League games06 December, 2022
Brazil dance past South Korea after Japan's disastrous penalty shootout against Croatia05 December, 2022After starting the tournament with a 7-0 win over Costa Rica, Spain faltered, and limped through the group stages in second place after a 2-1 loss to Japan in their final fixture.
However, manager Luis Enrique rejected the notion that that defeat illustrated that his side were too rigid and unwilling to play in a more direct way when necessary.
He said: “I think there is clear misinformation in the world of football. What’s clear is that everyone uses their own weapons.
“You tell us, when should we go for the long ball? When we know we’re going to lose? No, that doesn’t work in football.
“We do not rule out any action. If we have a situation and we go for a long ball, that’s totally fine. That is something that needs to be interpreted by the footballer on the pitch.”
He added that it was a “cliche” to suggest it was a lack of experience that had cost his team victory against Germany (with whom they drew 1-1) and led to the upset against Japan.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/gqbNFw4
Post a Comment