Russie 2018
Spain top group after thrilling finale
(FIFA.com)
25 Jun 2018
- Spain top Group B despite being held to a draw
- Morocco salvage their pride with a point
- RELIVE: As it happened, stats, more | Post-match press conferences
Spain’s objective at the start of the match was simple: to stay top of Group B. Though already eliminated, Morocco had an objective of their own: to ensure they did not leave the competition goalless.
Morocco were the first to fulfil their aim, as forward Khalid Boutaib capitalised on a misunderstanding between Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta to sprint clear and slip the ball under David De Gea with 14 minutes on the clock. Clearly stung, *La Roja* took just five minutes to reply, with Iniesta slipping the perfect pass to Isco, who fired home from close range.
That was not the cue for the Spanish machine to click into gear, however, as the Atlas Lions continued to make life difficult for them. Boutaib scampered clear once more only to be denied by De Gea, and though Diego Costa was inches away from converting another pinpoint Iniesta pass before the break, the Moroccans went close yet again when Nourredine Amrabat struck the angle of post and bar with a fizzing drive ten minutes into the second half.
Spain’s response to that scare was to keep the ball and bump up their possession stats, though it was the Africans who struck next when Youssef En Nesyri powered home a header from a corner with nine minutes remaining. But just when Morocco though the points were theirs, Iago Aspas scored with a fine back-heeled flick in stoppage time as Spain ultimately made first place theirs.
Team reporter analysis
Antia Andre, with Spain [Follow on Twitter]
In their final group match Spain had to settle for a share of the points, secured in dramatic fashion by Aspas’ injury-time strike. The Spanish had earlier passed up several chances to take the lead in a match lit up by some sparkling interplay between Isco and Iniesta. Defensive errors ultimately cost La Roja the win but not top spot in the section.
Gallery: Spain 2-2 Morocco
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![Spain v Morocco: Iago Aspas of Spain celebrates after scoring his]()
Spain v Morocco: Iago Aspas of Spain celebrates after scoring his
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Iago Aspas of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Iago Aspas of Spain back heels in past Monir El Kajoui of Morocco]()
Spain v Morocco: Iago Aspas of Spain back heels in past Monir El Kajoui of Morocco
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Iago Aspas of Spain back heels in past Monir El Kajoui of Morocco to score his sides second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Iago Aspas of Spain celebrates]()
Spain v Morocco: Iago Aspas of Spain celebrates
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Iago Aspas of Spain celebrates with teammate Sergio Ramos after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Youssef En Nesyri of Morocco scores]()
Spain v Morocco: Youssef En Nesyri of Morocco scores
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Youssef En Nesyri of Morocco scores his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Spain and Morocco players look on]()
Spain v Morocco: Spain and Morocco players look on
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Spain and Morocco players look on as Gerard Piqué of Spain heads wide of the target during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Isco celebrates with David Silva after scoring]()
Spain v Morocco: Isco celebrates with David Silva after scoring
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Isco celebrates with David Silva after scoring his sides opening goal to make the score 1-1 during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Isco celebrates with teammates after scoring]()
Spain v Morocco: Isco celebrates with teammates after scoring
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Isco celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides opening goal to make the score 1-1 during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Dani Carvajal of Spain is challenged by Hakim Ziyach of Morocco]()
Spain v Morocco: Dani Carvajal of Spain is challenged by Hakim Ziyach of Morocco
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Dani Carvajal of Spain is challenged by Hakim Ziyach of Morocco during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: David Silva of Spain]()
Spain v Morocco: David Silva of Spain
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: David Silva of Spain during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Isco of Spain scores]()
Spain v Morocco: Isco of Spain scores
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Isco of Spain scores his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Khalid Boutaib of Morocco celebrates]()
Spain v Morocco: Khalid Boutaib of Morocco celebrates
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Khalid Boutaib of Morocco celebrates scoring his sides opening goal with teammates Hakim Ziyach, Younes Belhanda during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Gerard Pique of Spain tackles Khalid Boutaib of Morocco]()
Spain v Morocco: Gerard Pique of Spain tackles Khalid Boutaib of Morocco
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Gerard Pique of Spain tackles Khalid Boutaib of Morocco during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Khalid Boutaib of Morocco scores his team's first goal]()
Spain v Morocco: Khalid Boutaib of Morocco scores his team's first goal
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Khalid Boutaib of Morocco scores his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Thiago of Spain is challenged by Achraf Hakimi of Morocco]()
Spain v Morocco: Thiago of Spain is challenged by Achraf Hakimi of Morocco
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Thiago of Spain is challenged by Achraf Hakimi of Morocco during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: David De Gea of Spain passes the ball]()
Spain v Morocco: David De Gea of Spain passes the ball
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: David De Gea of Spain passes the ball under pressure from Khalid Boutaib of Morocco during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Jamie Squire - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Herve Renard, Head coach of Morocco looks on]()
Spain v Morocco: Herve Renard, Head coach of Morocco looks on
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Herve Renard, Head coach of Morocco looks on prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Referee Ravshan Irmatov books Manuel Da Costa of Morocco]()
Spain v Morocco: Referee Ravshan Irmatov books Manuel Da Costa of Morocco
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Referee Ravshan Irmatov books Manuel Da Costa of Morocco as Diego Costa of Spain complains about the challenge during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Spain players celebrate]()
Spain v Morocco: Spain players celebrate
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Spain players celebrate following the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Spain v Morocco: Youssef En Nesyri of Morocco celebrates]()
Spain v Morocco: Youssef En Nesyri of Morocco celebrates
25 Jun 2018
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Youssef En Nesyri of Morocco celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
Zineb El Houari, with Morocco [Follow on Twitter]
Morocco departed on a high. Already eliminated on their fifth World Cup appearance, the north Africans restored their pride in style by holding the 2010 world champions in check thanks to goals from Boutaib and En Nesyri, who plays his club football for Malaga. Though Spain pressed high at the start of the match, Herve Renard’s side – captained by Mbarek Boussoufa – did not give an inch. Fighting all the way to the end, Morocco went some way to making up for their early exit with a warrior-like display.
Budweiser Man of the Match
The scorer of Spain’s first equaliser, Isco oozed class throughout. His sudden bursts of acceleration, dribbling and precise passing made him his side’s most dangerous player.
The stat
23 - Though Spain left it late, tonight’s draw extends their unbeaten run to 23 matches, a sequence that no other team on the planet can match.