The quarterfinal stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup ended with a historic first and the defending champions powering through to a second straight semifinal.
Morocco stunned Portugal 1-0 to become the first African country to reach the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's campaign in Qatar without a goal. Later, France knocked out England 2-1 with a commanding show worthy of the title holders.
By The Numbers has the best stats from the two World Cup matches played on Saturday:
Morocco 1 - 0 Portugal
1
Morocco became the first African team to reach the semifinal of a FIFA World Cup.
6
Morocco extended their unbeaten streak at the FIFA World Cup to 6 games. This is the longest ever by an African team.
0
Morocco are yet to concede a goal from an opposing player in this tournament; the lone goal they conceded was an own goal vs Canada in the group stage.
0
Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score in all eight of his knockout stage appearances at the World Cup. That is 570 minutes and 27 shots without a goal.
0 - Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score in all eight of his knockout stage appearances at the World Cup (inc. third place play-off), going 570 minutes without scoring and taking 27 shots in the process. Exit. pic.twitter.com/HyTrpoUad0
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
2
Ronaldo's 8 goals are the second most in World Cup history by a player that did not score in the knockout stage (along with Ademir and Oscar Miguez). Only Grzegorz Lato scored more (10).
2
Youssef En-Nesyri becomes the second Moroccan player to score in multiple games in the same World Cup (after Abdeljalil Hadda in 1998.) His goal was also the second header goal ever scored by Morocco in World Cups. The first? Also En Nesyri, against Spain in 2018.
3
Yassine Bounou (Bono) is the first African goalkeeper to record three clean sheets in a single edition of the World Cup.
41
Sofyan Amrabat has won possession 41 times at the 2022 World Cup so far, the most of any player in the tournament.
France 2 - 1 England
1
France became the first defending champions to reach the semifinals in 24 years, since Brazil in 1998.
7
England exited the World Cup at the quarter-final stage for the seventh time - more than any other nation.
27
Antoine Griezmann record his 27th assists for France, this is more than any player for the national team over the last 50 years. Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane had 26 each.
4
Griezmann's assist was his fourth at the World Cup, the most by a French male since the 1966 World Cup (our dataset).
4
Olivier Giroud go-ahead goal was his fourth in Qatar. He is now tied for the 3rd-most in a single men's World Cup by a French player.
53
Harry Kane tied Wayne Rooney as the joint-highest scorer for the England men's side.
4
Kane's strike was also his fourth career penalty kick goal in World Cups, tying Rob Rensenbrink, Gabriel Batistuta and Eusebio for most all-time by any player.
11
Another record for Kane as he captained England for the 11th time at the World Cup finals, a new record for the men's side.
(Stats courtesy: ESPN Stats and Information Group)