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Lionel Messi's Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in penalty shootout after thrilling 3-3 draw with France

It was an incredible night of drama and fluctuating fortunes, delivering one of the all-time great finals to cap a wonderful tournament.

Argentina had looked to be cruising to a one-sided victory after Messi's penalty and a brilliant goal by Angel Di Maria in the first half put them in total control, but Mbappe converted an 80th-minute penalty and volleyed in an equaliser a minute later to take the game to extra time.

Croatia claim World Cup third place in 2-1 win against Morocco

Key points:

  • Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic scored for Croatia
  • Their coach said Saturday's bronze-medal game was the tournament highlight
  • Morocco was the first African or Arabic team to reach the last four at a World Cup

Croatia, who were runners-up in 2018, prevailed with goals by Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic to end their World Cup on a high as Luka Modric possibly bid farewell to the soccer extravaganza.

World Cup 2022: Morocco defeats Portugal to advance to semifinals

The only scoring in the match came in the 42nd minute when Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri took a cross from Yahya Attiyat-Allah and managed to get a header past goalkeeper Diego Costa for the sole goal.

Morocco's fierce defence on Sunday morning AEDT limited Portugal to just three shots on goal.

The team's previous tournament wins include victories over Belgium and Spain.

The match also will be remembered as perhaps the end of major international play for superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who was removed from Portugal's starting line-up at the start of the round of 16.

English agony as Kane miss sends France through

  • Harry Kane scores one penalty but misses another as England crash out
  • Tchouameni and Giroud on target to send holders France through
  • Neither team deserved to lose a fantastic match full of first-rate football

England 1-2 France

Goals: England - Kane (54' pen); France - Tchouameni (17'), Giroud (78')

France will take on Morocco in the Qatar 2022 semi-finals after a thrilling, topsy-turvy 2-1 win over England at Al Bayt Stadium.

Hat-trick hero Ramos propels six-goal Portugal into quarter-finals

  • Goncalo Ramos scored three on first international startPepe, Raphael Guerreiro and Rafael Leao on target in statement Portugal display
  • Fernando Santos's team face Morocco in last eight on Saturday
  • Portugal 6-1 Switzerland

Goals

Portugal: Goncalo Ramos (17, 51, 67), Pepe (33), Guerreiro (55), Leao (90+2)

Switzerland: Akanji (58)

Morocco make history as Spain pay the penalty

  • Asensio and Aguerd missed good chances for either side in the first half
  • Morocco were playing their first World Cup knockout game since 1986
  • Sarabia hit the post in the last minute of extra time

Morocco 0-0 Spain (3-1 penalties)

Match review

Morocco made it to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time after holding their nerve in the penalty shoot-out while Spain lost theirs.

“Believe In Yourself”

Brazilian coach, Marcos Gusmao told the players during team talk to believe in themselves.

“We are playing final. Every game is final and I believe in you. The New Zealand Whites the favourite but we will play as final and play to win. We need to score goals.

“The team is very focused on the game and wants revenge, we are sure we will have a great game,” the coach said.

After Team Talk, coach Marcos Gusmao, has announced a strong team including several of those players in 2016 drawn match in Port Moresby, where New Zealand won on penalty. 

Cook Islands football will head to Qatar

The national team was scheduled to play Tonga in the qualifiers match for a place in the group stage of the competition.

The Cook Islands will now get a chance to play against Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu.

     

Match schedule set for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ OFC preliminary competition

The tournament will determine which nation will represent Oceania in the FIFA intercontinental play-off in June 2022, from which the winner earns a spot at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ finals.  

A standalone match between the two lowest-ranked OFC nations, Tonga and the Cook Islands, will be held on March 13 to determine who qualifies through to join Group A and contest the preliminary competition. 

Group A, which will be made up of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tahiti and the qualifying match winner, will have its first Match Day on March 17. 

Oceania FIFA World Cup qualifiers set for early next year

The Oceania Football Confederation confirmed all matches will take place in Qatar from 14 to 30 March 2022.

The OFC qualifiers will be played in a mini-tournament format featuring eight teams, consisting of a round-robin group stage, semi-finals and the final.