📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup | OneFootball

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Padraig Whelan·6 December 2022

📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

The latest matchday of World Cup action saw the final two teams secure their places in the quarter-final.

This is how it looked.


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Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

Morocco may have had Sofyan Ambrabat on the field but in the stands, it was a different kind of Batman cheering them on.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

As for the player, he put in one of the best individual performances of the tournament so far in the heart of the action.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

In the penalty shootout after a scoreless stalemate, Spain failed to convert any of their kicks – Sergio Busquets being the third and final victim.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

Some Morocco fans could only watch on small screens as their side aimed to make history.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

And they did so via a sublime Panenka penalty from Madrid-born defender Achraf Hakimi.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

That sparked scenes of wild celebration as the country booked their place in the quarter final for the first time ever.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

And coach Walid Regragui made history too after becoming the first African coach to steer a side into this stage of the competition.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

In Portugal’s clash with Switzerland, Cristiano Ronaldo found himself dropped for his country in a competitive figure for the first time in 14 years – and the clamour to snap his photo on the bench was staggering.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

Needless to say, he didn’t look happy about it.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

Perhaps even less so when his replacement Gonçalo Ramos opened the scoring with an outrageous finish from a tough angle.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

Pepe then became the oldest scorer of a World Cup knockout goal with a thumping header.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

And in the second half, Ramos claimed the first hat-trick of this year’s tournament – on his first ever international start!

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 17 at the World Cup

Rafael Leão put the seal on things with perhaps the finest goal of the six in Portugal’s big win. They look incredible without their captain.