ExiledAjax

It's almost as though we're all one country.

Kept Mbappe quiet though didn't we.

Have we somehow managed to go out on penalties without the game going to penalties?

Welcome to the thunder dome

Wikipedia is great sometimes.

There we go.

We've played well. Undone by a wonder strike and a shite penalty denial. Should be 1-1. Saka needs to be braver. Run at them. Make them tackle you. We can still win this.

Exactly. I see no "anti" football in those stats. Just clever football.

I think they're similar, and there's definitely an echo of Greece in the results, but in performance and style it's more complex than just being a repeat. I see it more as though they're a modern Greece '04. Prioritising the clean sheet is their game but they've got more counter-attacking flair. I recall Greece scoring from set pieces (I was 15 so apologies if that's wrong). Whereas this Morocco team are more of an open play outfit. So yes they are similar teams, but Morocco have the modern play out from the back and counter attack aspect.

I didn't see much "anti-football" (whatever that really is) from Morocco tonight. 9 shots, 3 on target, xG of more than 1.0. Not really grinding it out. They're tough, defensively savvy, but also have some talent on the counter attack, and I also was impressed with the variety with which they were able to attack. I parroted a comparison to Greece in 2004, but having now watched them I think they're far more positive than that team was.

Clean sheets win tournaments. Morocco have 4 in their 5 games. Conceded just once - an own goal against Canada. They've shut out Croatia, Belgium, Spain and now Portugal. So that's Perisic, de Bruyne, Lukaku, Gavi, Ronaldo, Felix, Ramos, and all the rest. Nothing. They didn't even concede in the penalty shootout!

I'll be absolutely honest and say I was very ignorant of Morocco's footballers before the tournament. I think if I'm honest I thought Boufal was French, Ziyech and El-Nesyri Algerian, and Hakimi French as well. That's my ignorance and my fault. If you look through their team they have a healthy corps of players who ply their trade at top clubs in the top leagues. Far more than some of their continental brethren or other "lesser" sides like Wales, Saudi Arabia or Australia. I wrote them off without really learning about them.

The Portuguese attempts to win free-kicks and penalties is slightly odd given their set-piece trebuchet is on the bench.

That is weak defending. But a fun bit of midfield play, a speculative cross, and the lad gets up like the springiest of all salmon to nod home. There's a whiff of Greece '04, but Morocco do have more about them going forward.

After they dumped Spain out I heard someone on the radio/podcasts ask if there was a "whiff of Greece 2004" about Morocco. This is the first time I've watched them this tournament and yes, I think there is.

Good win.

Tough game for Pring today, but I think he's played well on the whole. Nice for him to get on the scoresheet.

Useful for me to go back and look at the last team. O’Leary, Vyner, King, Pring, Weimann, James, Scott, Williams, Dasilva, Conway (Semenyo 65), Wells Subs: Bentley, Atkinson, Massengo, Sykes, Martin, Bell I'd definitely forgotten that Pring was involved against Watford. Today's team is still a little bit makeshift, but it's good to have Naismith back.

Argentina has such a tangled history with Britain, a history that extends far beyond Falklands jingoism and the "Hand of God". The silver land is a grand country in which there remain native Welsh speakers and gentlemen's clubs reminiscent of the RAC. Polo, rugby, and yes their footballing tradition stem from our own. A fascinating history from a fine country. England should never get to enter a team in the world cup, but as the closest approximation to a UK team I'd enjoy an England v Argentina final. Interestingly our potential semi-final opponents Portugal are the other participants in the oldest continuous international alliance - Britain (or it's predecessor nations) and Portugal have been formally allied since the mid-1300's.

Are Croatia finally tired yet? Win the crowd and you will win your freedom.

99% of the Welsh squad?

It's QPR that have that sombrero wearing fan who comes and waves a Morocco flag for the whole game right? He's always off to the left of the away end.

Awful penalties. Shame for Japan.

Hot take. ET should be a single 20 minute period.