Two almost shocking incidents happened at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup on December 6. The first was Morocco ousting former World Cup winners Spain out of the competition in their round of 16 match, and the second was Portugal whipping Switzerland 6-1, despite Christiano Ronaldo entering the field as a substitute in the 72nd minute.
The two teams now meat in the quarter finals.

Morocco oust Spain
Spain and Morocco tried their best in 120 minutes but couldn’t break the deadlock. Spain had the most chances to open the scoring but Morocco remained alert in defence to force the game into penalties. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made three saves in the penalty shoot-out as his team won 3-0

Portugal brush aside Switzerland
With Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, the superstar striker’s replacement scored a hat-trick to lead Portugal over Switzerland 6-1 and into the World Cup quarter finals. Goncalo Ramos, a 21-year-old forward who only made his Portugal debut last month, made his first start for his country and demonstrated the kind of clinical finishing Ronaldo was once known for.

Ramos scored the opening goal in the 17th minute and added others in the 51st and 67th by which time chants of “RONALDO! RONALDO!” were swirling around the 89,000-seat Lusail Stadium. Ronaldo entered as a substitute in the 72nd minute to loud cheers, though Portugal had the game wrapped up by then with defenders Pepe and Raphael Guerreiro also scoring. Rafael Leao added a late goal in stoppage time.

Manuel Akanji scored for Switzerland. Portugal advanced to the quarterfinals for the third time, after 1966 and 2006, and will play Morocco on Saturday. Portugal coach Fernando Santos now has to decide whether to stick with Ramos or restore Ronaldo, the top scorer in men’s international soccer and one of the game’s greatest ever players.

Knockout Round