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Qatar 2022 is fast-becoming the World Cup of upsets and we witnessed one more on Sunday on the Al-Thumama Stadium as Morocco produced a memorable 2-0 win over Belgium.
In fact, it was a completely deserved victory for the Atlas Lions towards an underwhelming Belgium facet that regarded every-inch the workforce that Kevin de Bruyne mentioned had handed their greatest when he spoke forward of the sport.
Abdelhamid Sabiri deceived Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a free-kick to open the scoring, earlier than one other substitute Zakaria Aboukhlal added a second late-on to safe the victory.
Morocco secured a memorable World Cup upset by defeating Belgium 2-0 on Sunday
It was an embarrassing defeat for Roberto Martinez’s facet who had been removed from their greatest
Following the enthralling conflict, Sportsmail has rated each groups’ gamers.
Belgium (4-2-3-1)
Thibaut Courtois – A disastrous efficiency from the Actual Madrid stopper. He was caught out for the disallowed Ziyech objective earlier than making an excellent worse error for Sabiri’s opener, as he was crushed at his close to submit. 4
Thibaut Courtois struggled and was caught out for Abdelhamid Sabiri’s opening objective
Thomas Meunier – Endured a torrid time on the correct, persistently laid low with Boufal earlier than he was subbed for Lukaku late-on. 5
Toby Alderweireld – Appeared each inch the 33-year-old on this efficiency as he struggled to take care of Morocco’s skilful entrance three. 5
Jan Vertonghen – Him and Alderweireld had been as soon as the Premier League’s greatest defensive pairing however, like his associate, Vertonghen regarded previous his greatest right here. 5
Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen struggled to take care of Morocco’s attackers all through
Timothy Castagne – Given the duty of coping with Ziyech by taking part in at left-back, Castagne contributed within the first 20 minutes when Belgium managed the sport earlier than fading badly. 6
Axel Witsel – Failed to actually supply a lot in a static Crimson Devils midfield that persistently regarded passive and took too many touches of their build-up play. 6
Amadou Onana – Booked early on however was one of many higher Belgium gamers as he tried to indicate his physicality earlier than being hooked on the hour mark. 6
Kevin de Bruyne – Tried to become involved in build-up play and regarded vivid within the first half, however was removed from his greatest – additionally got here below heavy criticism for his pre-game feedback. 6.5
Eden Hazard – A shadow of his former self, it’s a unhappy to see how far and the way rapidly Hazard has fallen from somebody who was thought of one of many world’s most proficient attackers just some years in the past. 5
Belgium captain Eden Hazard was a shadow of his former self throughout the Group F conflict
Thorgan Hazard – Higher than his brother – mixed properly with different attackers within the first half however did not do sufficient. 6.5
Michy Batshuayi – Appeared just like the ahead who struggled with Crystal Palace as he failed to supply any form of outlet up-front – missed a giant probability early on that might have modified the course of the sport. 5
Substitutes
Youri Tielemans (on for Onana 60mins) – Struggled to impression the sport or present any of his high quality after approaching. 6
Dries Mertens (on for E Hazard 60mins) – Pressured a superb save out of El Kajoui shortly after being launched however did nowhere close to sufficient. 6
Leandro Trossard (on for T Hazard 74 minutes) – Launched late-on and did not have the possibility to do a lot. 6
Charles De Ketelaere (on for Batshuayi 75 minutes) – Belgium barely created a possibility after the AC Milan attacking midfielder got here on. 6
Romelu Lukaku (on for Meunier 81 minutes) – Appeared in need of health however little question affords an outlet up-front that Batshuayi can not. 6
Morocco (4-1-2-3)
Munir El Kajoui – Introduced in with moments to go earlier than kick off for Yassine Bounou, El Kajoui deserves immense credit score for his efficiency which included three sharp saves. 7
Munir El Kajoui tailored brilliantly after being introduced into the workforce moments earlier than kick off
Achraf Hakimi – Battled via a thigh niggle in admirable style earlier than being withdrawn as a precaution. 6.5
Nayef Aguerd – The West Ham man handled all the standard in Belgium’s assault to limit them to restricted alternatives. 6.5
Romain Saiss – Morocco’s captain was strong on the again and posed a nuisance in assault at set items, getting in the best way of Courtois for Ziyech’s disallowed objective after which Sabiri’s opener. 6.5
Noussair Mazraoui – A relentless thorn in assault and defence at full-back, Mazraoui helped to shackle De Bruyne on Belgium’s right-hand-side. 7
Sofyan Amrabat – Was good on the base of Morocco’s midfield, breaking apart assaults and serving to to arrange his facet after they pushed ahead. 7.5
Azzedine Ounahi – Tidy and composed alongside Amallah and Amrabat. 6.5
Selim Amallah – One other essential a part of the Moroccan midfield – was changed halfway via the second half. 6.5
Hakim Ziyech – Confirmed why Chelsea paid £38m to signal him in 2020 – was a relentless risk for Morocco, had a objective dominated out and arrange Aboukhlal’s objective. 8
Hakim Ziyech lived as much as his position as his nation’s talisman and was good all sport
Youssef En-Nesyri – Not fairly at his greatest, however stored Vertonghen and Alderweireld busy. 6.5
Sofiane Boufal – Brought on Meunier an entire host of issues down Morocco’s left as he confirmed off his trickery and tempo to create a number of possibilities for his facet. 7
Substitutes
Abdelhamid Sabiri (on for Hakimi 67mins) – Set Morocco on their solution to the memorable win together with his good free-kick as he whipped it in with tempo and out-foxed Courtois. 7
Yahia Attiyat Allah (on for Amallagh 67mins) – Slotted in on the again after approaching and helped to take care of Morocco’s clear sheet. 6
Zakaria Aboukhlal (on for Boufal 72mins) – Secured the victory with a fantastic end in damage time, sparking wild celebrations. 7
Zakaria Aboukhlal secured the victory in added time, sparking wild scenes for Morocco
Abderrazak Hamdallah (on for En-Nesryi 72mins) – The skilled ahead helped his facet see out the win. 6
Jawad El Yamiq (on for Ounahi 78mins) – Introduced on so as to add additional defensive resilience and did his job. 6
