The_jagster

Doesn't feel like a knockout game atm, more like a group game where the big team is resting players and not that bothered, and the smaller team isn't good enough to create much either.

If Spain are just going to play like this I'm happy to see them go home. Morocco have done the right thing, compete in midfield so that you might win it back in a promising position but they haven't looked that dangerous aside from set pieces. Ref seems to wave the Spanish dives away but give the Moroccan ones too.

Not sure what was worse, Rodri's clearance or the header.

At times it's like Morocco have seen pre-match clips about Spain's last game and thought they were meant to emulate their passing round the back, not disrupt it.

Much less neutral than I anticipated, already shouted out "Come On!" twice while Morocco have been in moderately promising positions

There's going to be a lot of booing and whistling if the crowd keep this up whenever Spain pass it around.

I've only seen Morocco against Belgium so difficult to judge how good they are, Belgium weren't good and they were a bit better. I don't see this match being an upset, but I don't know if Spain are always going to be dull or if the Japan game might give them a wake up call.

Sound the Heartwork klaxon, for this is the Strait of Gibraltar derby. These two countries even share land borders thanks to Spain's own colonial past with three sections of Spanish land on the Moroccan coast. Edit: oh Spain do the stupid thing of a video line-up rather than a picture How did they get here: Morocco: Won their qualifying group ahead of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan, then a playoff against DR Congo. Won their group, beating Canada and Belgium while drawing with Canada. Spain: Won their qualifying group containing Greece and Sweden, but only beat Costa Rica before drawing with Germany and losing to Japan. Last 16 regulars? Morocco: One previous appearance in 1986, losing to Germany 1-0. This tournament they have already equalled their number of wins across all previous World Cups combined with sparse appearances. Spain: 8 previous ties, most of which have resulted in victories. Their last one was a penalty loss to Russia, they beat Portugal 1-0 in 2010 and lost 3-1 to France in 2006. Previous meetings? Yes! 2-2 in the last 2018 group stage match, with Iago Aspas equalising late on for Spain. They have even contested a World Cup knockout stage of sorts in a playoff for Chile 62. In the Africa-Europe clashes Spain won matches 3-2 and 1-0 to progress to the finals, Alfredo Di Stefano among the scorers. Laura Woods hosts coverage of England before the match itself kicks off at 3.

Think Korea were still thinking of the old engine when trying so many lofted balls over the top in the second half. Brazil still only looked troubled once they knew it was won despite Korea committing players forward, it's going to take a good performance to beat them and I can't see Croatia providing it.

Korea's problem isnt necessarily committing too many players froward, they just can't defend. Goals one and three they have the numbers, but not the ability.

Last two goals have been worth watching

Name one game we played like this... Name one game in the knockout stages we played like this.

Scored the best two goals of the tournament so far Though I really liked the Freuler one, shame I heard it before I saw it.

Because they got to play Portugal's reserve team

If I played for Wolves I'd take any opportunity to actually have a shot tbf

Against England in Euro 2020 for one, that was just playing for a 0-0. You might have kept the ball but you never bothered about scoring.

Only a huge score will make this worth a watch now

I can forgive arithmetic errors if they tell me something different about the football.

Brazil have looked good but not brilliant so far, difficult to see how Korea get a win in normal time as they are another team that don't have much in attack, and you fancy Brazil to score at least one. I don't really want to see this slow Croatia side go much further though so I'd rather Brazil win both matches and we get a big semi-final clash out of it.

They do it quite a bt normally, Salah had one where it looped up after a save and you couldn't tell what was happening.

It makes sense, most right footers are stronger shooting to their left so a good pen there and the keeper can't save it

It's bad when you've got two teams like this. But 2 of the last 3 world cups have been won in extra time, England beat Denmark, Italy beat Austria and Spain beat Croatia in ET at Euro 2020.

Shame Croatia equalised quite early in the half, this is terrible

Big tourney Perisic

Can Croatia create when not given as much space as Canada allowed them?