Football
Twitter reacts to Spain’s World Cup elimination to Morocco on penalties

Another one bites the dust.
After narrowly scraping through their group (only just about avoiding the same ill fate as Germany), Spain have been knocked out of the World Cup at the last 16 stage on penalties for a second successive tournament, this time at the hands of Morocco.
2018—Spain are eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to Russia on penalties
2022—Spain are eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to Morocco on penalties — B/R Football (@brfootball) December 6, 2022 🇪🇸 Spain’s previous World Cup shootout record 📋
🆚 Belgium: Lost 5-4 ❌ (1986) 🇲🇦 This is Morocco’s first World Cup shootout 👀#BBCWorldCup #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/yBmgaBtZ5s — Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 6, 2022 ◎ 5-4 vs Belgium (1986) Spain have now lost four World Cup penalty shootouts, more than any other nation. 😮 pic.twitter.com/vMJGvouNOq
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 6, 2022
🆚 Rep of Ireland: Won 3-2 ✅ (2002)
🆚 South Korea: Lost 5-3 ❌ (2002)
🆚 Russia: Lost 4-3 ❌ (2018)
◉ 3-2 vs Ireland (2002)
◎ 5-3 vs South Korea (2002)
◎ 4-3 vs Russia (2018)
◎ 3-0 vs Morocco (2022)
How did we get here? Weren’t Spain the favourites to go through against their neighbours from northern Africa?
Well, it was the same old story with La Roja – lots of possession, not enough penetration.
Spain have completed 685 passes and attempted five shots. This might be worse than the Russia game.
— Ryan O’Hanlon (@rwohan) December 6, 2022 Spain’s endless passing and posession had no punch again. A carbon copy exit to the one they had 4 years ago against Russia. Their football tonight was boring and bland. Magnificent from Morocco. Especially Hakimi , Saiss, Aguerd , Amrabat , Ziyech and Bono.
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) December 6, 2022 Spain’s last two World Cup last 16 matches against Russia and Morocco:
Passes: 2,133 — Karan Tejwani (@karan_tejwani26) December 6, 2022
Goals: 1
Losses: 2
Captain Sergio Busquets – who was one of three Spain players to miss in the penalty shootout – had a rather poor game walking through the mud of the midfield.
ahí va Busquets manejando la contra pic.twitter.com/RlY0HpV8PD
— Pablo Mur (@pablomurrrr) December 6, 2022 Morocco have completely taken Busquets out of this game, and when you see how central he is to Enrique’s system you can understand why. Spain look devoid of ideas so far
— Lyés (@LyesBouzidi10) December 6, 2022 Busquets encarrerandose para tirar el penal pic.twitter.com/7Ksg7t5K4z
— JIMMYNHO DA SILVA 🇧🇷 (@JNT3D) December 6, 2022
Even literal Golden Boy Gavi was coming in for criticism.
I can assure you, if Gavi wasn’t Spanish and playing for Barcelona, absolutely nobody would be comparing him to Iniesta lmao https://t.co/n7fCTCbW5C
— Taísto (@TaistoFCB) December 6, 2022 Gavi if his name didn’t rhyme with Xavi pic.twitter.com/xSKt1VujZ5
— 🃏 (@umarver1point2) December 6, 2022 As good as Gavi is at 18, there isn’t a team in world football where he should be starting ahead of Thiago Alcantara. Spain have made an absolute mess of Thiago’s international career and hurt themselves in the process by depriving themselves of the best Spanish midfielder.
— Anfield Fix 🇵🇸 (@AnfieIdFix) December 6, 2022
But credit where it’s due to Morocco, who took Spain the whole way and went toe-to-toe with them. West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd came in for praise again.
Aguerd having the game of his life here. Even the free kick he gave away to Gavi was a shit call from the ref
— Alex Stewart (@AFHStewart) December 6, 2022 Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saïss when playing for Morocco. pic.twitter.com/BI8CZFraZt
— bet365 (@bet365) December 6, 2022 Aguerd is one of those underrated CBs, playing a great WC so far, despite his own goal against Canada.
— AUGUSTUS 🔴 (@Der_Augustus) December 6, 2022
Former Southampton star Sofiane Boufal, often criticised for his inconsistency, was having the game of his life.
Sofiane Boufal has completed the most dribbles (5) so far this match. 🇲🇦⚡️ pic.twitter.com/6KhEadnu0d
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 6, 2022 It can’t be forgotten, Boufal didn’t touch the ball in between these two images 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/CAejpEQI5j
— hassan. (@westsidehassan) December 6, 2022 Boufal dying to get into the streets won’t forget XI
— Ahmed Shooble (@AhmedShooble) December 6, 2022
Spain nearly stole a spot in the quarter-finals at the end of the 120 minutes through Pablo Sarabia, and he was first to miss during the shootout.
Enrique: Pablo, I’m subbing you on to take a pen… act natural
Sarabia: pic.twitter.com/km0DnuPXzg
— declan (@ProudSomaIi) December 6, 2022 Pablo Sarabia has managed to hit the post twice in the space of 30 seconds of action
— Richard Martin (@Rich9908) December 6, 2022 sarabia was la liga top assister in his final season in spain then moved to a real league and was exposed for being another figment of our imagination
— murãt de souza 🇧🇷 (@onthervnmvrvt) December 6, 2022
Carlos Soler and Busquets missed for Spain, allowing Madrid-born and raised Achraf Hakimi to step up and score the winning spot kick.
Scenes. Limbs.
Born in Madrid he knocks Spain out!! 🇲🇦🇪🇸
Achraf Hakimi wins the penalty shoot-out with a panenka to see Spain out of the competition! 😲#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/QWWynN6821
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 6, 2022
Achraf Hakimi was born and raised in Madrid to Moroccan parents, spent the first years of his life in Spain, and rejected approaches from Spain to play for the Morocco national team.
Today, he scored a panenka penalty against Spain to send Morocco to the quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/w5bMINAmbz
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 6, 2022
ACHRAF HAKIMI. 🐧🫶🏽👑
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 6, 2022
Achraf Hakimi celebrating with his mother after defeating Spain in the Round of 16 is everything ❤️🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/XPiBNtHpNc
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 6, 2022
With this win, Walid Regragui became the first African manager to lead a nation into the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
1 – Morocco coach Walid Regragui has become the first ever African manager to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. Pioneer. #MORSPA pic.twitter.com/3tLWzvuOff
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 6, 2022 Morocco are World Cup quarter-finalists for the first time ever. Only the fourth African team to reach this stage of the competition. The only AFCON team to win a penalty shootout in WC history. Morocco’s Golden Generation is shining bright. Historic. pic.twitter.com/d0oAgpYWv2
— VERSUS (@vsrsus) December 6, 2022
EPL
Nottingham Forest announce signing of Andre Ayew

Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of free agent Andre Ayew despite interest from Everton.
The forward has been heavily linked with a move to the Toffees in recent days, but Forest have swooped in to sign the Ghanian.
Speaking to the club’s official website after finalising the move, the forward said: “It’s a great feeling to sign for Nottingham Forest.
“I know how big the club is and I know how much the club means to the city and the fanbase. It’s always been difficult whenever I’ve played against Forest and at The City Ground and I love the stadium.
“Steve Cooper is someone who knows me very well and knows how to work with me both on and off the pitch. We have a strong relationship, he’s a special coach and a special human being and someone who I really look up to.”
“I know what I can bring to the team, I’m ready to give my all and make sure that we are able to stay in the Premier League.”
EPL
Wolves vs Liverpool – Premier League: TV channel, team news, lineups & prediction

Liverpool will be looking to make a statement with a Premier League trip to Wolves this weekend, having been dumped out of the FA Cup by Brighton last Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are without a league win in their last three attempts and have slipped as low as ninth in the table. Depending on what Chelsea do against Fulham on Friday night, the Reds could be 10th by the time they kick-off at Wolves.
Wolves are still yet to really find their groove under Julen Lopetegui, although at least remain out of the relegation zone on goal difference for the time being.
Wolves vs Liverpool H2H Results (Last Five Games)
Current Form (Last Five Premier League Games)
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Wolves team news
Wolves have no new injury concerns ahead of this one, with Pedro Neto, Boubacar Traore, Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho all still sidelined.
Wolves predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Sa; Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno; Neves, Nunes; Traore, Sarabia, Hwang; Jimenez.
Liverpool team news
Centre-back Ibrahima Konate is the latest Liverpool player to join the injury list, ruled out until at least mid-February with a hamstring problem.
Virgil van Dijk is also still out, as are Roberto Firmino, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. Arthur Melo is making progress but is a couple of weeks away from resuming training.
Liverpool predicted lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
It’s certainly feasible that Wolves could continue to pile the misery on Liverpool.
The Reds had beaten Wolves in seven consecutive meetings until a recent FA Cup tie ended in 2-2 draw at Anfield. It was then only a single goal that decided the replay in the Merseysiders’ favour.
Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Liverpool
EPL
Mason Greenwood releases statement after Greater Manchester Police drop all charges

Mason Greenwood has released a short statement stating that he is ‘relieved’ after the Greater Manchester Police dropped all charges against the Man Utd forward.
Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault, allegations relating to the same woman last year and, following an investigation, GMP have confirmed that all charges have been dropped.
The GMP confirmed the news in a statement earlier on Thursday: “Given the significant media coverage of this case, it is only fair that we share the news that the 21-year-old man, who had been arrested and charged in connection with an investigation opened in January 2022, no longer faces criminal proceedings in relation to this.
“The investigation team has remained in regular contact with the legal team, providing any updates of note, and so understand the rationale for the discontinuation of proceedings at this stage, and that this decision has not been taken lightly.
“Despite the media and public’s interest in this case, we have decided not to comment on it in any further detail.
“I would, however, like to use this opportunity to reiterate GMP’s commitment to investigating allegations of violence against women and girls and supporting those affected, regardless of their circumstances, throughout what can be a hard and upsetting time for them. An ever increasing number of officers are receiving specialist training and the force is more consistently utilising tools, available via the criminal justice system, to keep people safe and care for victims.”
Greenwood has now responded with a statement of his own, writing: “I am relieved that this matter is now over and I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support. There will be no further comment at this time.”
Manchester United are due to conducted their own internal investigation on the matter.
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