Morocco makes history, sends Ronaldo home in tears
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Morocco makes history, becoming the first African or Arab nation to make it to the World Cup semi-finals and booking a match against France in the upcoming stage.
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The Moroccan national team players raise the flag of Palestine after the historic victory against Portugal
The Moroccan national team on Saturday sent Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo home in tears in a scenario similar to what took place between Croatia and Brazil on Friday when Neymar left the pitch in tears.
Morocco was able to win against Portugal in the quarter-finals in a shock 1-0 game that made the Atlas Lions the first African nation to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Early lead Morocco garnered, with a goal from Youssef En-Nesyri at 42' that lasted the Arab nation the whole game, was able to send Portugal back home with a crushed dream for the Portuguese legend, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese forward, 37, may never have another chance to win the game's biggest trophy, and his World Cup exit was especially bitter as he started the game on the bench.
With another result, Ronaldo might have celebrated leveling the all-time men's international appearance record with his 196th Portugal cap, but his final minutes were desperate.
The goal scored via a stellar header from En-Nesyri, who made a vast jump toward the ball in what looked like a record-breaking leap, managed to send Ronaldo down the tunnel with tears streaming down his face as the Arab team was celebrating its win with its fans.
Ronaldo won the Euro 2016 with his country, albeit after being taken off injured during the win over France in the final and watching from the sidelines as Eder became his country's hero.
Ronaldo struggled to get involved in the game, with Morocco swarming him whenever the ball was close. He only managed to get one shot at the goal, but Morocco's goalie, Yassine Bounou, managed to deny him that goal.
Bitter miss for Kane
France's Olivier Giroud scored the winning goal as defending World Cup champions France defeated England 2-1 after Harry Kane missed a late penalty, setting up a semi-final against Morocco.
The early goal from the French side, scored at 17' by Aurélien Tchouaméni, managed to last the French until the early minutes of the second half before England's Harry Kane putted a penalty kick at 54' that leveled his team's score with France.
At 78', however, Giroud scored what seemed like the last goal of the game until England was able to earn another penalty, though Kane was not able to score, missing the goal by a landslide as England's wait to win a first major international trophy since the 1966 World Cup goes on.
This, remarkably, was the first meeting of these two great rivals in a major tournament knockout game, with Croatia's victory in extra time preventing England from joining France in the final four years ago.
There is no shortage of goal threats in the French side but few could have predicted that the opener would come from Tchouameni, the midfielder who is just 22 and had scored only once for his country before this game.
There was a touch of controversy to the goal, as it came from a France break that started with what looked like a foul by Dayot Upamecano on Saka.
