The 2022 FIFA World Cup underwent yet another shocking result as Morocco beat Spain in the round of 16!
Yes, the North African side that many tipped to crash out of the group stage not only finished ahead of Croatia and Belgium in the first hurdle, but they have now overcome Luis Enrique's men to make the quarterfinals for the first time in history.
Neither team could find the breakthrough in 120 minutes of play, meaning a penalty shootout was required in order to decide the winner. Unfortunately for La Furia Roja, none of their three spot-kick takers managed to hit the back of the net, thus sending them crashing out.
Meanwhile, three of Morocco's four penalty-takers converted theirs, with Achraf Hakimi stealing the headlines after scoring the decisive spot-kick. In fact, the PSG superstar broke the Internet as he pulled off a brave Panenka against Unai Simon to send his nation to the last eight. Check out his penalty in the clips below (videos are geo-restricted).
HAKIMI WINS IT FOR MOROCCO
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 6, 2022
MOROCCO IS MOVING ON pic.twitter.com/zlA17MUgJa
Born in Madrid he knocks Spain out!!
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 6, 2022
Achraf Hakimi wins the penalty shoot-out with a panenka to see Spain out of the competition! #ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/QWWynN6821
#MAR #ESP
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 6, 2022
WOW! Morrocco reach the quarter-finals of the @FIFAWorldCup! @AchrafHakimi is the coolest man in the stadium to score the winner! #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/HOAKxzMloA
And just like that, the highly-regarded right-back went viral on Twitter thanks to his audacious penalty. Check out the best tweets below.
ACHRAF HAKIMI.
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 6, 2022
Morocco have conceded just ONE goal through 4 World Cup matches and are now headed to their FIRST EVER World Cup quarterfinal
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 6, 2022
They drew Croatia and defeated both Belgium and Spain in the process
What an incredible story pic.twitter.com/KPIKwEBX0J
Achraf Hakimi hit a penalty to send his country through to their FIRST EVER World Cup quarter-final.
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 6, 2022
The COLDEST man in the stadium. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/6zMgaIOQKu
Achraf Hakimi went straight to his mum to celebrate Morocco's historic win. pic.twitter.com/pYRcW4GxfE
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) 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.
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 6, 2022
Today, he scored a panenka penalty against Spain to send Morocco to the quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/w5bMINAmbz
Achraf Hakimi. Elite mentality. pic.twitter.com/lQhXWrAf90
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 6, 2022
The Atlas Lions understandably celebrated that victory with their tremendous supporters in Qatar but the North African side will have one eye on the other round of 16 fixture now that they are through to the quarterfinals. Ziyech and Co. will face the winner of Portugal vs. Switzerland.