Spain's shock 2018 World Cup Round of 16 exit at the hands of Russia — when La Furia Roja took 79% possession with 1,115 passes but fell in a penalty shootout — was supposed to be the ultimate nightmare fuel for the purveyors of tiki-taka.
On Tuesday in the 2022 World Cup Round of 16, Spain suffered another incredible upset in a penalty shootout, this time to African neighbors Morocco after taking 77% possession with 1,019 passes.
This one felt a lot more soul-crushing. Led by Luis Enrique and the new blood of Pedri, Gavi and Ferran Torres, Spain only managed a single shot on target over 120 minutes. It was even more sterile than the Russia game.
What's worse, when they ultimately crumbled in the shootout with Sevilla's Bono seeing off attempts from Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets, Achraf Hakimi hit the winning penalty by way of Panenka and celebrated with the waddle.
That's a level of humiliation we've never seen at a World Cup.
HAKIMI WINS IT FOR MOROCCO
MOROCCO IS MOVING ON pic.twitter.com/zlA17MUgJa— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 6, 2022
Sound up for this one
Hakimi's game-winning penalty for Morocco called in Arabic is something you can't miss ⬇️(via beinsports) pic.twitter.com/k9Qmaul9ZW
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 6, 2022
Achraf Hakimi celebrating with his mother after defeating Spain in the Round of 16 is everything ❤️ pic.twitter.com/XPiBNtHpNc
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 6, 2022
After a titanic defensive display from Hakimi, Romain Saïss and Sofyan Amrabat, Morocco advances to the quarterfinals for the first time in the nation's history and becomes the fourth African country to achieve the feat. They'll face the winner of Tuesday's later match between Portugal and Switzerland.