Here’s what’s happened today at the FIFA World Cup.
Brazil have crashed out of the tournament, losing to Croatia in a penalty shootout. Argentina are through to the semi-finals after a dramatic quarter-final in which they needed penalties to get past Netherlands.
Game played on Saturday December 10, 2022
Quarterfinals
Croatia 1 (Pelković 117′)
Brazil 1 (Neymar 105+1′)
Croatia won penalty shootout 4-2 after extra time.
Netherlands 2 (Weghorst 83′, 90+11′)
Argentina 2 (Molina 35′, Messi 73′ pen)
Argentina won penalty shootout 4-3 after extra time.
Games to be played on Sunday December 11, 2022
Quarterfinals
Having defeated Spain on penalties to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, Morocco are seeking to become the competition’s first African semi-finalists as they take on Portugal, who racked up the round of 16’s biggest win in overwhelming Switzerland 6-1, Gonçalo Ramos becoming the FIFA World Cup 2022’s first hat-trick scorer on his first international start.
The teams have met twice before, both in decisive FIFA World Cup group matches.
Morocco were 3-1 winners at Mexico ’86, whereas it was Portugal who emerged victorious in 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring an early header in a 1-0 victory for Fernando Santos’s side.
Morroco v Portugal
Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama, 4am (NZT)
The last of the four quarter-finals brings together European rivals England and France, who have met twice before at the finals, England winning both matches – 2-0 in the final group fixture of their 1966 triumph and 3-1 in their opening match in 1982.
This is the first knockout match between the cross-Channel neighbours at any major tournament.
England have won only three of their nine previous FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, the third of those under Gareth Southgate in 2018, 2-0 against Sweden.
Their only two previous FIFA World Cup fixtures against defending champions were both quarter-final defeats, 4-2 by Uruguay in 1954 and 3-1 by Brazil in 1962.
England v France
Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 8am (NZT)
More from the World Cup
READ MORE: Our previous World Cup stories >>>>
More football stories
