{"id":1826,"date":"2022-12-06T12:55:10","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T12:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=1826"},"modified":"2022-12-06T13:35:58","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T13:35:58","slug":"2022-12-06-world-cup-round-of-16-pre-mar-esp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2022-12-06-world-cup-round-of-16-pre-mar-esp","title":{"rendered":"Morocco vs Spain: Neighbours Turned Foes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The final two places in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals are at stake on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The penultimate clash in the Round of 16 sees Morocco take on Spain at Education City Stadium, with kick-off at 18H00 local time (15H00 GMT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These two countries are separated by a mere 13 kilometres, representing the shortest distance between their respective continents. Being the northernmost point in Africa and the southernmost of Europe, Morocco and Spain are essentially neighbours and there is a lot riding on this match-up back home.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
13 kilometres separate Morocco and Spain.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Despite such a short distance separating the two nations, the Moroccan and Spanish national teams have met just three times before. Their sole clash this century came at the 2018 World Cup where they contested a 2-2<\/em> draw in the group stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their previous two meetings came some 67 years earlier, in a two-legged qualifier for the 1962 World Cup, as Spain won 4-2<\/em> on aggregate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this tournament, Spain netted nine goals in the group stage \u2013 the joint-highest \u2013 though they scored just once in each of their last two games. The Spanish have dominated the ball, as per usual, and in their clashes with both Costa Rica and Japan, La Roja<\/em> had north of 1,000 passes and 80 per cent possession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Moroccans, meanwhile, are among the best in regaining possession and they rank second in tackles and third in interceptions at this World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Atlas Lions defied the odds to top Group F, taking seven points from nine and conceding just a single goal in 270 minutes. Morocco is the first African nation to top a World Cup group this century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 games. 6 clean sheets.

Since becoming head coach, Walid Regragui’s Morocco have not conceded a goal in 540 minutes of football.#MAR<\/a> | #FIFAWorldCup<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/uEVqdgvkvK<\/a><\/p>\u2014 The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) November 27, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>