Football fans have reacted to Morocco’s emphatic 2-0 win over Belgium as riots have reportedly broken out in Brussels between police and Moroccan supporters....CONTINUE READING
Belgium fans have been filmed ripping up the streets of Brussels in anger after Sunday’s dismal 2-0 World Cup defeat to Morocco.
The violent riots led to a car being smashed and flipped over and fireworks going off after Roberto Martinez’s side slipped down Group F with another poor performance.
Goals from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal ensured Morocco claimed a sensational 2-0 victory over Belgium in Group F at the World Cup.
Having barely beaten Canada in their opening contest in Qatar, many expected an improved performance from Roberto Martinez’s side who sit second in FIFA’s world rankings.
Fans did not get that better showing and Morocco were ready and waiting to pounce. Before all that, though, they had to deal with a late change to their starting lineup, moments before kick-off.
To the confusion of many – including the BBC’s commentary team – it was revealed at half-time that Yassine Bounou pulled out ahead of kick-off, citing some kind of problem with his eyes.
That should’ve been ammo in itself for Belgium, who desperately needed to silence doubters after a subpar performance against Canada. It didn’t happen, though, and they were – frankly – played off the park.
The Atlas Lions had already put the ball in the back of the net on the cusp of half-time, thanks to a wonderful, whipped free-kick from Hakim Ziyech – the Chelsea outcast enjoyed another stellar outing.
Unfortunately, Ziyech’s crisp effort was rightly chalked off, but the warning signs were there.
Having been given a warning on the stroke of half-time, surely Belgium would perk up with the game locked at 0-0 and the clock ticking down, right? Right?
Apparently not.
Morocco took advantage of this, continuing to push forward and eventually getting their reward when Sabiri fired his country ahead after 73 minutes. Again, it was from a well-whipped free-kick towards the near post.
But while most of the eyes were on Belgium’s shoddy defending of set pieces, one fan made a brilliant point.
Considering Aaron Mooy is pulling strings elsewhere for Australia, he isn’t wrong. Those Terriers getting where water doesn’t.
Roberto Martinez’s side were now in hot water, which only got hotter as Ziyech found another level and helped Morocco to a crucial second in the game’s dying embers.
The Chelsea winger showcased his fantastic footwork to keep Morocco in possession inside Belgium’s penalty area, before switching a square ball back into the path of Aboukhlal who finished brilliantly on his World Cup debut.
But things could’ve been much different, had Walid Regragui not taken charge in September…
It’s a funny old game.
Unless you’re Belgium, or Roberto Martinez, that is. Then it’s just a painful one.
A former Wigan and Everton manager failing to deliver on the world stage with an incredibly talented crop of players and immense pressure from just about every angle. Who would’ve thought?
Regardless of what criticism you can throw at Belgium, Morocco deserve just as much credit. They ousted the second best team in the world – according to FIFA – to clinch just their third ever World Cup win and go top of Group F.
Belgium, meanwhile, must really buck up their ideas in order to avoid further embarrassment in the form of being eliminated – the only thing that would be more tragic than that awful home kit.
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