FIFA World Cup Live Updates: Portugal vs Morocco

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

FIFA World Cup Live Updates: Portugal vs Morocco
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NH Sports Bureau

20 Jun 2018, 4:21 PM

Portugal vs Morocco: Starting line-ups

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

20 Jun 2018, 7:31 PM

Up next tonight at 8:30 is Uruguay facing Saudi Arabia. Later tonight Spain will face Iran at 11:30

20 Jun 2018, 7:29 PM

Group B standings:

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


20 Jun 2018, 7:26 PM

And it's game over in Moscow!! Portugal 1-0 Morocco

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.

20 Jun 2018, 7:21 PM

Now Morocco misses a sitter in the 93rd minute

Benatia fires a shot way too above the goal


20 Jun 2018, 7:20 PM

Yellow card Adrien Silva

20 Jun 2018, 7:19 PM

5 minutes of added time


20 Jun 2018, 7:19 PM

And another chance for Morocco in the final minute of playing time. Ziach's shot is deflected away, Morocco wins a corner

20 Jun 2018, 7:17 PM

Moutinho is replaced by Adrien Silve for Portugal in the 89th minute


20 Jun 2018, 7:17 PM

Ronaldo fouled inside the box, but Referee misses to spot and Portugal is denied a penalty. No VAR intervention either

20 Jun 2018, 7:12 PM

Ronaldo fouled merely a feet outside the box, free-kick from a very dangerous position for Portugal

Ronaldo hits the wall again


20 Jun 2018, 7:11 PM

Now a shot from Portugal towards the goals, but it's too wide

20 Jun 2018, 7:09 PM

And another corner for Morocco in the 81st minute, but Morocco can't convert chances into goals today


20 Jun 2018, 7:07 PM

A corner for Morocco in the 80th minute now

And another chance but no goal

20 Jun 2018, 7:07 PM

CHANCE: And another chance for Morocco, merely centimeters wide of the goal. Morocco running out of luck here, and out of time too


20 Jun 2018, 7:06 PM

Another free-kick for Morocco from a convertible position in the 78th minute

20 Jun 2018, 7:05 PM

Substitution for Morocco

Belhanda makes way for Carcela


20 Jun 2018, 6:55 PM

Free-kick for Morocco from right outside the box in the 65th minute

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

20 Jun 2018, 6:55 PM

CHANCE: And another chance for Morocco, but no goal yet

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


20 Jun 2018, 6:55 PM

First change of the match for Portugal

Martins replace Bernardo Silva in Potugal’s first substitution

20 Jun 2018, 6:47 PM

ANOTHER CHANCE: Patricio to Portugal's rescue again

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


20 Jun 2018, 6:44 PM

CHANCE: Another one, just a chance yet again!!

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

20 Jun 2018, 6:40 PM

Ronaldo...... He shots is way too high

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


20 Jun 2018, 6:35 PM

Corner for Portugal in the 47th minute

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

20 Jun 2018, 6:34 PM

Second half underway


20 Jun 2018, 6:23 PM

End of first half: Portugal 1-0 Morocco

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!!

20 Jun 2018, 6:17 PM

Morocco ALMOST equalises. Almost again!! Ziyach's shot into the box is headed just a little wide of the goalpost


20 Jun 2018, 6:15 PM

3 minutes of stoppage time in the first half

20 Jun 2018, 6:14 PM

CHANCE: Another chance for Morocco, but no goal


20 Jun 2018, 6:09 PM

Almost another goal for Portugal! Kajoui makes a brilliant save

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

20 Jun 2018, 6:08 PM

Morocco playing some good football, but are unable to convert their effort into a goal


20 Jun 2018, 6:02 PM

Corner for Portugal in the 33rd minute, but to no avail this time

20 Jun 2018, 6:01 PM

Ronaldo from short distance, oh he hits the wall


20 Jun 2018, 6:01 PM

Free-kick for Portugal right outside the Moroccan penalty area in the 32nd minute

20 Jun 2018, 6:00 PM

Big appeal for penalty by Morocco, but both Amrabat and Guerreiro seemed to have pulled each-other, that too outside penalty area


20 Jun 2018, 5:56 PM

Ronaldo fouled in the 26th minute, free-kick for Portugal

20 Jun 2018, 5:53 PM

Ziyach shots from outside the D in the 23rd minute, easy save for Rui Patricio


20 Jun 2018, 5:49 PM

CHANCE: Another chance for Morocco in the 19th minute, good defending again by Portugal

20 Jun 2018, 5:48 PM

CHANCE: Another chance for Morocco here. But Portugal defends well to deny Morocco an equaliser


20 Jun 2018, 5:44 PM

Da Costa's header is too wide for Patrico to be concerned

20 Jun 2018, 5:43 PM

Another corner for Morocco in the 14th minute, Morocco on attack here


20 Jun 2018, 5:42 PM

Morocco attempts another shot on target. What a save by Rui Patrico, the Portuguese goalie

20 Jun 2018, 5:41 PM

Corner for Morocco in the 11th minute


20 Jun 2018, 5:41 PM

Morocco on attack now, oh nearly a goal for Morocco now!! Header merely flies above the goal post

20 Jun 2018, 5:39 PM

Ronaldo shoots, just wide of the goal. It was so nearly another goal for CR7, but remains 1-0


20 Jun 2018, 5:38 PM

Chance for Morocco on the break-away, but derives nothing out of it

20 Jun 2018, 5:35 PM

Portugal 1-0 Morocco


20 Jun 2018, 5:35 PM

85th goal for Ronaldo, becomes the second highest goal scorer in International football

20 Jun 2018, 5:35 PM

Another corner for Portugal, CR7 scores a header in the 4th minute


20 Jun 2018, 5:34 PM

First corner of the match for Portugal as Bernardo Silva's delivery into the box is deflected by the Moroccan defender

20 Jun 2018, 5:32 PM

Morocco showing some intent in the beginning. First shot on goal in the very second minute


20 Jun 2018, 5:30 PM

Portugal vs Morocco: Morocco kick-off the first half at the Luzhniki stadium

20 Jun 2018, 5:25 PM

National anthems underway at Stadion Luzhniki


20 Jun 2018, 5:20 PM

Portugal vs Morocco: 10 minutes to kick off

20 Jun 2018, 4:32 PM

Portugal vs Morocco: One hour to go for kick-off


20 Jun 2018, 4:09 PM

Can Ronaldo break another milestone today?

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

20 Jun 2018, 4:06 PM

Recent form of both the teams:

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)


20 Jun 2018, 3:58 PM

Portugal vs Morocco, head to head:

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?

20 Jun 2018, 3:52 PM

The Iranian team heads to the Luzhniki Stadium


20 Jun 2018, 3:46 PM

With 3 goals in 1 match, 2018 is already Ronaldo's best World Cup ever. Can he turn his first match heroic into Golden Boot at the end of the season?

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

20 Jun 2018, 3:36 PM

The Portuguese team take a stroll outside their hotel. Just two hours to before #PORMAR kick-off


20 Jun 2018, 3:12 PM

"Tonight we can make history," Iran captain Ashkan Dejagah is confident of his team's clash against 2010 champions Spain

20 Jun 2018, 2:56 PM

Coincidentally, Iran's Majid Hosseini celebrates his birthday today. Can the birthday boy lead his team to a victory that will guarantee a place in the next round?


20 Jun 2018, 1:50 PM

After a 5-0 onslaught against hosts Russia, Taisir Al-Jassim is hoping for Saudi Arabia to bounce back. Watch him talk to FIFA TV

20 Jun 2018, 12:46 PM

Nacho, the Spanish defender who scored a crucial goal against Portugal, had thought his career would be over without even a start at an adolescent age due to diabetes, tweeted FIFA. Can Nacho add another goal to his tally against Morocco?


20 Jun 2018, 12:43 PM

After 3-3 draw against Spain, Portuguese striker Andre Silva expects "another hard match" against Morocco; tweets FIFA

20 Jun 2018, 12:18 PM

Moroccan fans arrive in Russia for their national team's clash against Portugal


20 Jun 2018, 12:14 PM

De Gea to play despite poor performances, confirms Spanish Coach Fernando Hierro

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.

20 Jun 2018, 12:03 PM

"We'll work for our people and our flag to succeed," Iran's Omid Ebrahimi told FIFA TV


20 Jun 2018, 12:06 PM

"Spain and Portugal are good teams, but we are not lost and our efforts are for success," Ebrahimi added

20 Jun 2018, 11:58 AM

"We have the ability to do better than against Spain," says Fernando Santos, the Portuguese coach


20 Jun 2018, 11:57 AM

"It will not be an easy game," says Portuguese defender Pepe ahead of match against Morocco

20 Jun 2018, 8:33 AM

June 20 FIFA World Cup 2018 Match Schedule (IST)

Portugal vs Morocco | 5.30 pm

Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia | 8.30 pm

Spain vs Iran | 11.30 pm


20 Jun 2018, 8:43 AM

Ronaldo's Portugal look to continue momentum against lowly Morocco in Moscow

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.

20 Jun 2018, 8:42 AM

Spain eye first win against Iran in Kazan

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.


20 Jun 2018, 8:40 AM

Saudi coach Antonio Pizzi looking for improvements as Saudi Arabia face Uruguay

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.

20 Jun 2018, 8:31 AM

Welcome to National Herald's FIFA World Cup 2018 match day live blog

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

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