FIFA World Cup Live Updates: Portugal vs Morocco

Portugal starting XI: Rui Patrico (GK), Pepe, Raphael, Fonte, Cedric, Moutinho, Mario, Bernardo Silva, William, Cristiano Ronaldo (C), Guedes

Morocco starting XI: Kajoui (GK), Hakimi, Da Costa, Benatia (C), Dirar, Ziyach, El Ahmadi, Belhanda, Boussoufa, Amrabat, Boutaib

1. Portugal: 2 matches, 1 win, 1 draw, 4 points

2. Iran: 1 match, 1 win, 3 points

3. Spain: 1 match, 1 draw, 1 point

4. Morocco: 2 matches, 2 losses, 0 points

After a promising start with a goal by who else but Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese slowed down and made just a few efforts at scoring. Morocco, on the other hand, tried hard but it was not to be. They become the second team to leave the FIFA World Cup 2018, after Egypt. Portugal need to up their game, with more formidable opponents coming up.

Benatia fires a shot way too above the goal

Ronaldo hits the wall again

And another chance but no goal

Belhanda makes way for Carcela

Ziach’s shot is inches above the post in another chance for Morocco

Belhanda delver’s a perfect cross inside the box, but

Martins replace Bernardo Silva in Potugal’s first substitution

Belhanda’s header in the 56th minute is saved ever so calmly by Rui Patricio, the Portuguese keeper

Belhanda fires in a shot from inside the penalty area, but Patricio collects a firing shot with calm and ease

It was a golden chance in the 50th minute, Ronaldo finds space inside the penalty area, has ample time to score his and Potugal’s second, but his shot flies into the sky, miles away from the goal post

Moutinho passes it short to Raphael, who fires it in in the box. But Portugal can’t extract a goal fro this good cross

After Ronaldo’s header in the fourth minute, Portugal has done well to defend a flurry of shots from the Moroccans. Morocco will feel unlucky as well as on a couple of occasions, the ball has either gone wide or high by inches but not inside the goal.Portugal too had an easy opportunity to double their lead but Guedes made a mess of a sublime Ronaldo assist. A terrific game of football in the first half, the second half only promises to be better. Can Morocco come back? Or will it be Portugal who will add to their tally of goals? Join us back in a while!!

Ronaldo passes to Guedes, who misses a sitter. He could have taken a moment to shot, but fired in the shot a little too early. yet, Kajoui had to do his part and he played it brilliantly to deny Portugal second goal

With 84 goals, CR7 is tied with Hungarian footballer Ferenc Puskas for the second highest goals in International football. Iranian Ali Daei leads the chart with 109 goals. Can Ronaldo surpass Puskas against Morocco? Less than an hour and a half for the Kick-off

While Portugal is undefeated in their last five outings (3 wins and 2 draws), Morocco has drawn and lost one match each and have won the other three encounters. The 2018 world cup started for Morocco with a draw against Spain, while Morocco lost to Iran through an own-goal in the dying seconds of the injury time (90+5)

In the only match played between the two sides way back in 1986, Morocco had defeated Portugal 3-1 to register their first ever victory at the World Cup finals. Can the African team turn the clock back and repeat history?

Ronaldo’s performance so far at the world cup finals:

2006: 26 shots, 1 goal

2010: 22 shots, 1 goal

2014: 22 shots, 1 goal

2018: 4 shots, 3 goals

It has been confirmed by Fernando Hierro that De Gea will play toninght, despite terrible outings for Spain in last couple of matches. In the last match against Portugal, De Gea made a terrible mess of Ronaldo's second goal.

Portugal vs Morocco | 5.30 pm

Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia | 8.30 pm

Spain vs Iran | 11.30 pm

Smarting after a last-gasp defeat to Iran, Morocco will have to deal with the peerless might of Portugal, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, who will attempt to follow up his World Cup opening game heroics when the two sides meet for a Group B clash here on Wednesday.

Five-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo grabbed a hat-rick as European champions Portugal snatched a 3-3 draw against Spain in a heavyweight showdown in Sochi.

It was Ronaldo's 51st career treble, and the 51st in the tournament's history, as the Real Madrid superstar became just the fourth player to score in four World Cups.

In hot form, Ronaldo will once again look to continue his magic at the Luzhniki Stadium and haul Portugal into the last 16.

Spain will look to ease pressure on them with their first win of the ongoing FIFA World Cup, while Iran will aim to register their second consecutive triumph in the Group B when the two sides clash here on Wednesday.

Spain tied 3-3 with Portugal on Friday in their first international match under newly-minted head coach Hierro, who took the job just two days before the World Cup after Julen Lopetegui was sacked for announcing he would lead Real Madrid next season.

For 2010 World Cup champion Spain, the draw had felt more like a defeat.

Spain and Portugal are tied for second in Group B with one point each, while Iran lead the group with three points after beating Morocco 1-0 earlier Friday, thanks to an own goal from Aziz Bouhaddouz.

An Iran win, though improbable on paper, will take them to the Round-of-16, while weakening the 2010 edition winners' chances of progressing to the next round.

Saudi Arabia chief coach Juan Antonio Pizzi promised his footballers would do everything possible to put the 0-5 defeat his side suffered against Russia in their opening FIFA World Cup game behind them when they face Uruguay on Wednesday.

Defeat to Uruguay would send the Saudis home from the World Cup, but speaking in his pre-game press conference, Pizzi stressed the importance of his side giving a different image on the pitch, reported Xinhua news agency.

All the action, on and off field from June 20, day 7 of the FIFA World Cup 2018 as Portugal take on Morocco and Spain face Iran in fresh Group B matches; Uruguay take on Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture