Morocco makes history by advancing to World Cup semi-finals, despite last night´s loss

 Watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNp8wQgsyxc

The 2022 World Cup is continuing to produce shock results. The latest is Morocco's defeat of European powerhouse Portugal. Youssef En Nesyri's soaring 42nd-minute header saw Morocco advance to the semi-finals. In so doing, they become the first African or Arab nation to get to the last four. Many soccer pundits argue the 1-0 result was not a shock. Morocco are only one of three teams to reach the quarter-finals stage undefeated. They have also conceded just one goal. They defeated one of the pre-tournament favourites, Belgium, at the group stage, and then eliminated former world champions Spain in an earlier knockout stage. Their performances have been full of grit, attacking flair and determined defending.

Dubbed the Atlas Lions, Morocco look forward to opponents France in their semi-final on December the 14th. They are one game away from a historic appearance in the final. Their win against Portugal ignited an outpouring of joy and raucous celebrations throughout Morocco and the Moroccan diaspora across Africa. So momentous was the win that at the final whistle, congratulations from world leaders flooded social media. The ruler of Dubai tweeted: "It was an unprecedented victory for Arab football." Somalia's president tweeted: "This is testimony that Africa is rising and we are a force to be reckoned with." Morocco coach Walid Regragui said his team would, "write history for Africa".

France is heading back to the World Cup Final and aiming to do something that hasn't been done in 60 years - repeat as World Cup champions. France is making a return trip after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the semifinal.

It didn't take long for France to silence the overwhelmingly pro-Morocco crowd at Al Bayt Stadium.In the 5th minute, the Moroccan defense let a ball arrive to French forward Antoine Griezmann who passed it to Kylian Mbappé. Defenders swarmed him but he still managed a shot, deflecting it to Theo Hernández. He elevated and sent the ball with a soaring left-footed scissor kick beyond keeper Yassine "Bono" Bounou to score 1-0.

 It was the first time Morocco had trailed in the tournament.

Morocco's defense and goalkeeping have been stellar this World Cup. Morocco hadn't allowed a single goal by an opponent the entire tournament until the semifinal. They shut out European soccer powerhouses: Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. Canada is the only team credited with a score - but it was an own goal.

The first half goal wasn't the only down moment for the Atlas Lions. In the 21st minute, Morocco made an early substitution replacing their captain Romain Saiss who was injured (another defender, Nayef Aguerd, was pulled from the starting list just before kickoff also due to an injury).France continued the attack the rest of the half. All-time French scoring leader Olivier Giroud had two golden chances - including a jaw dropping shot  that bounced off the left post.

Morocco's best opportunity to score came in the 43rd minute. Jawad El Yamiq had a beautiful bicycle kick off a corner kick that seemed to surprise everyone except French keeper Hugo Lloris who just pushed it away.

Morocco started the second half with chance after chance after chance in front of the French goal. The pride of Africa played with renewed energy and enthusiasm and managed to keep the reigning champions on the defensive but they still could not find a way to score.

But France did. In the 79th minute, Mbappé zipped around the Moroccan defense and powered through a shot that fell to the feet of  Randal Kolo Muani who calmly kicked it in to give France a 2-0 lead. Kolo Muani had substituted into the game just a minute before.

Morocco came into the match against France unbeaten in its last ten games (7 wins, 3 draws) and the first African country to advance to a World Cup semifinal. They were also just the third nation outside of Europe or South America to reach this deep into the tournament (USA 1930 & South Korea 2002).

This was the seventh time France had reached the semifinal of a World Cup. It lost the first three (Brazil 1958, West Germany in 1982 and 1986). But it won the next four (Croatia 1998, Portugal, 2006, Belgium 2018 and Morocco 2022).

Even with the loss, Morocco has one more World Cup game to play - in the third place match against Croatia on Saturday.

The final is Sunday with France taking on Argentina and their star Lionel Messi who is seeking his first World Cup title and his last chance to win it before hanging up his boots.

1. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH: Students A strongly believe the world cup is the greatest show on Earth; Students B strongly believe otherwise. 

2. SPORTING EVENTS: How great are these sporting events? Complete this table.

 

Great Things

Not So Great Things

Soccer World Cup

 

 

Summer Olympics

 

 

Winter Olympics

 

 

Formula 1

 

 

Wimbledon

 

 

Tour de France

 

 

3.Describe the following positions and what tasks must they do . 
  • Coach / Manager
  • Goalkeeper
  • Defender
  • Midfielder
  • Winger
  • Forward
  • Substitute

4.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1.

powerhouse

a.

An expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called upon to give their opinions to the public.

      2.

soaring

b.

A person or thing of great energy or strength.

      3.

pundit

c.

Failed to prevent an opponent scoring a goal or point.

      4.

conceded

d.

Completely remove or get rid of something.

      5.

eliminated

e.

Flying or rising high in the air.

      6.

grit

f.

Stylishness and originality.

      7.

flair

g.

Courage and resolve; strength of character.

    Paragraph 2

      8.

dubbed

h.

Aroused or inflamed an emotion or situation.

      9.

ignited

i.

Of great importance or significance, especially in having a bearing on future events.

      10.

raucous

j.

Given an unofficial name or nickname to.

      11.

diaspora

k.

Making a loud noise.

      12.

momentous

l.

Never done or known before.

      13.

unprecedented

m.

The grouping of any people from their original homeland.

      14.

testimony

15. overwhelmingly             

16. own goal

17.swarmed

n.

Evidence or proof of something.
            18.trailed
            19. stellar
             20.hanging up his boots
            21.reigning
o. currently holding a title 
p.move somewhere in large numbers
q.to a great degree
r.outstanding, incredible
s.to be behind someone or something 
t. to retire
u.to score against your own team


5. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. shock
  2. defeat
  3. pundits
  4. conceded
  5. flair
  6. dubbed
  7. raucous
  8. momentous
  9. reckoned with
  10. testimony
  1. nicknamed
  2. let in
  3. evidence
  4. noisy
  5. loss
  6. style
  7. experts
  8. taken into account
  9. upset
  10. significant

6.DISCUSSION: 

  1. What are the relations like between Spain and these 4 countries ?
  2. Are the imigrants of these countries well integrated in Spanish society?
  3. How good at football is your national team?
  4. What good does football do in the world?
  5. What impact does Morocco´s performance in the World Cup have on the country´s global image?

7.Role play:  These 4 countries have reached the semi-finals: Morocco, France, Argentina and Croatia. What could you tell us about the following in relation to them.

Role  A – Cuisine

Role B- Citizens

Role C-  History

Role D-  Tourist Destination

Role E- National Football Team                                                                                             

Role F- Culture



8.Spelling

Paragraph 1

  1. Morocco's eefdat of European powerhouse Portugal
  2. soccer itdupns
  3. reach the quarter-finals stage audednfeet
  4. They have also ececnodd just one goal
  5. eiltnidmea former world champions
  6. attacking arfil

Paragraph 2

  1. bebdud the Atlas Lions
  2. a historic peecapanar in the final
  3. rsacuuo celebrations
  4. the Moroccan odrpaisa across Africa
  5. an rentncdeeeupd victory
  6. This is tymeisont that Africa is rising

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