TOPS/FLOPS – The Bounou wall, Boufal’s recital or even Spanish clumsiness… Here are the Tops and Flops of Spain’s elimination against Morocco in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
TOPS
Bounou, the hero of the nation
If Morocco qualified for the quarter-finals, it is largely thanks to its goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, author of three parades on the three Spanish shots on goal. The Sevilla goalkeeper disgusted the La Roja players in turn during this session. Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and finally captain Sergio Busquets failed. Bounou becomes only the fourth goalkeeper in history to stop three attempts in a World Cup penalty shootout.
Boufal’s recital
The Angers striker delivered a high-level performance by chaining technical gestures during the 65 minutes he played. In her direct confrontation, Sofiane Boufal ate Marcos Llorente many times. The Spaniard struggled throughout the game. A benchmark match for the Ligue 1 resident.
Hakimi’s gesture
Full of composure, Achraf Hakimi sent his team to the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the first time in its history with a perfectly executed panenka. A gesture of great class which is likely to remain etched in the history of the World Cup.
FLOPS
Spain’s zero point
If Bounou stopped the three Spanish shots on goal, it is also because of the shooters. In turn, Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets missed their attempt, before Hakimi sent Morocco to the quarter-finals. Sarabia sent him to the post and directly made his team doubt. Then, Carlos Soler stumbled on Bounou before Busquets also failed, with an extremely soft and badly shot shot.
The sterile domination of La Roja
Dominating is not winning, Spain paid the price. Indeed, Luis Enrique’s men have continued to have possession of the ball (76%) but have only very rarely provided opportunities. Spain fell back into its ways by finding a sterile and ineffective possession. We must also pay tribute to the very compact defensive block of the Moroccans.