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Morocco out of 2018 FIFA World Cup as Portugal grabs 1-0 win

Wednesday, 20 June 2018 2:57 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 20 June 2018 5:34 PM ]

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his team’s first goal during a 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B match between Portugal and Morocco at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia, on June 20, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

The Morocco men’s national football team, nicknamed Atlas Lions, has failed to book a spot in the Round of 16 of the 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Russia, slumping to its second consecutive defeat in the preliminary round.

On Wednesday, Portuguese professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo thumped a fourth-minute header to give A Selecção a 1-0 over Morocco in a Group B tie at the Luzhniki Stadium in the Russian capital city of Moscow.

Portugal is now the top-ranked soccer team in the group with four points.

The Iran men’s national football team, better known as Team Melli, stands in the second spot, having earned three points.

Spain’s La Furia Roja has racked up one point to claim the third position, while fourth-placed Morocco has not earned any point.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo shoots at goal from a free kick during a 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B match between Portugal and Morocco at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia, on June 20, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

During the official 2018 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony at Kremlin State Palace in the Russian capital city of Moscow on December 1 last year, the Iran football team joined the Portugal national football team, nicknamed A Selecção, Spain’s La Furia Roja and Atlas Lions of Morocco in the preliminary round of the tournament.

The host nation, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay form Group A in the upcoming quadrennial international sports event.

France is drawn in Group C, and is pitted against Australia, Peru and Denmark.

Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria are drawn in Group D.

Group E consists of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.

While the 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea shape Group F, Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England are in Group G.

Morocco's Faycal Fajr looks dejected after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B match between Portugal and Morocco at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia, on June 20, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

Group H has Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will run through July 15. Russia opened the event against Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. The hosts won the match 5-0.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities.

Iran started its World Cup campaign against Morocco at Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 15.

The Iranians were gifted a 1-0 win over Atlas Lions when Moroccan striker Aziz Bouhaddouz thumped a powerful header into his own net five minutes into injury time.

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