MOROCCO have made a bright start to their World Cup clash against Spain.
The African underdogs finished top of their group in Qatar and have managed to keep Spain at bay in the first half.
- Start time: 3pm GMT
- TV: ITV 1
- Live stream: ITV X
- Morocco XI: Bounou, Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui, Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah, Ziyech, En Nesyri, Boufal
- Spain XI: Simon, Llorente, Rodri, Laporte, Alba, Busquets, Gavi, Pedri, Olmo, Asensio, Torres
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Morocco 0-0 Spain
50. Spain are looking shaky at the back when on the backfoot.
Simon again nearly gifts the opposition a goal with the ball at his feet.
It seems like something the manager has told them to do, passing it out from the back, but Simon does not look comfortable with the ball at his feet.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
48. Torres is brought down wide on the right.
The ball is swung into the Moroccan box.
It is headed behind for a corner.
Credit: EPA Morocco 0-0 Spain
46. The whistles still continue while Spain have the ball.
Morocco sit deep with numbers behind the ball.
Spain need to find a way to break down the numbers in front of them.
Kick-off: Morocco 0-0 Spain
We are underway in the second half.
Big half ahead as we need to find ourselves a winner.
Morocco get the game restarted.
HT: Morocco 0-0 Spain
It has been a game, highly-contested in the midfield areas so far.
Amrabat has been huge for the Atlas Lions in breaking up play.
He has given Pedri and Gavi no time on the ball whatsoever.
Boufal and Ziyech have been busy for Morocco but they need to have a more telling presence in the second half.
HT: Morocco 0-0 Spain
Despite dominating the possession stats, Spain have really failed to do anything with it in that first half.
Still failing to register a shot on target in that first 45 minutes.
HT: Morocco 0-0 Spain
The referee brings the first half to a close.
Morocco have had the better chances in this half.
Spain, have had all the possession, but failed to do anything with it.
Credit: PA Morocco 0-0 Spain
45. We are going to have one minute of time added on.
Torres comes streaming forward for Spain as he looks for Asensio.
Morocco manage to snuff the attack out with numbers.
Morocco 0-0 Spain – Aguerd chance
43. A deep cross is overhit and finds Boufal.
He takes the ball down and drops his shoulder to lose his marker.
Measuring a cross to the back post, he finds Aguerd who has a free header at goal but heads it over.
Big chance.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
41. Spain look to thread one towards the byline for Olmo.
Hakimi reads it all too well and the PSG right back manages to jockey it out of play.
Gavi is penalised for a foul on Boufal.
He has become the Jack Grealish of this Moroccan side.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
39. Celta Vigo, I mean Spain, come forward once more.
The attack breaks down and Morocco try to get quick ball to Hakimi, who makes a lung-bursting run into the Spanish half.
On this occasion it does not come off as the ball runs out play.
Morocco only need that quick counter to come off the once.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
37. Spain are dominating possession in these early stages.
You would expect that with Morocco being a more direct side.
As long as Spain are doing nothing with that possession, it is something that the Atlas Lions will happily give up to them.
Credit: Getty Morocco 0-0 Spain
35. The numbers the Atlas Lions get around the ball is phenomenal.
As soon as Ferran Torres receives it, he is immediately surrounded by three Moroccan players.
No way through for the Spanish forward as he is crowded out.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
33. Alba is having to deal with the constant threat of Ziyech.
Morocco come forward as the ball is fed to Mazraoui.
He fancies his chances and shoots from distance but the keeper saves and gathers the ball at the second attempt.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
31. We are through the first half an hour of the game.
Neither side has had a shot on target in that time.
This game has penalties written all over it right now.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
29. Morocco are defending well.
Spain are struggling to deal with the numbers in front of them.
This means they have to try and be more inventive to break those lines, something which has not clicked for La Roja yet.
Credit: Getty Morocco 0-0 Spain
27. Seems strange to see Spain playing without a striker.
Pep Guardiola was chastised for doing the same with his Man City side.
But at a World Cup, in such an important game, you would feel the need for a striker is there.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
25. Absolute drama in the Moroccan box.
Bono takes once chance too many and the ball is fed back into Ferran Torres who lays it off to Gavi.
His effort is tipped onto the bar and then the follow up is blocked brilliantly by the Moroccan defence.
The linesman then raises his flag.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
23. The Atlas Lions fans are still making themselves heard.
The drums, trumpets and jeers for Spain.
Boufal pick pockets Llorente once again.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
21. Morocco have another free kick, this time in a wide position.
Boufal does brilliantly on the left to beat Llorente.
His cross toward Ziyech cannot pick out his teammate.
Credit: Getty Morocco 0-0 Spain
19. Neither keeper has had much to do so far.
The game has turned into a midfield battle.
Amallah is penalised for a foul.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
17. Morocco also are looking comfortable in possession.
They are breaking down the Spanish attacks well.
If they can hit Spain with quick counter-attacks they could hurt them in this turnover.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
15. A high ball is lofted into the Spanish box.
Simon does well to grasp the ball through a sea of players.
Spain are looking to pass the ball around.
Morocco 0-0 Spain
13. Rodri is penalised for a foul on Boufal.
Spain are trying to play a physical game.
The referee is having any of it though.
Credit: Reuters Morocco 0-0 Spain
11. The Atlas Lions have a free kick in a very dangerous position.
Hakimi takes a strike at goal.
It goes a couple of feet over the bar, not troubling the Spanish keeper.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
