Belgium, Canada, Spain. Will Portugal be the next to be mauled over by the Atlas Lions? That was the first question Morocco coach Walid Regragui was asked on Friday, the eve of their quarter-final clash.

Morocco have been the story of the tournament so far making it to the last-eight stage surprising a few big names en route.

The first North African or Arab country to make it this far in a World Cup has played four games in Qatar. In front of their raucous, fervid support, they have yet to concede a single goal off an opponent’s foot, even in a penalty shootout. Their approach to Portugal will be the same as in their victory against the Spanish: sit tight, stay back, and pounce on the break.

Portugal, on the other hand, have been something of an enigma. For years, they have boasted of enough individual talent to match any team on the planet, and yet, under Fernando Santos, they have been assiduously, if at times successfully, dour.

That all changed on Tuesday evening.

Santos relegated Cristiano Ronaldo, a national icon, to the bench, and cut Portugal loose. Rookie Gonçalo Ramos, his direct replacement, scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 rout of Switzerland, and Otávio and João Félix thrived in a more dynamic system.

Morocco, then, present a test both of Santos’s resolve — does Ronaldo remain in reserve? — and Portugal’s newfound sense of adventure.

Portugal players at training on Friday. Getty Images

At a media conference, coach Santos was only asked about Ronaldo. “Will he start against Morocco? How did the team react to their captain being benched? If he has become surplus...” Questions were fired from all sides. At one point, Santos lost his cool. “At every news conference, every question is about Ronaldo, that’s his magnitude. I don’t have to answer everything,” he said.

There have been whispers that Ronaldo had threatened to leave the team. “We had this conversation on matchday (Switzerland) after lunch. That was the only conversation I had with him and I explained to him why he would not start. Told him in terms of strategy, it would be better if we didn’t start with him,” Santos said.

Morocco players at training on Friday. Getty Images

“Cristiano wasn’t happy because he’s always been in starting but he has never told me that he is leaving the national team. It’s high time we stop this conversation.”

In 2018, when Morocco and Portugal faced off in a group-stage match it was Ronaldo who made the difference with a fourth-minute strike.

“One of the best teams in the world with the best player ever,” was how Morocco coach Regragui described his Saturday’s rivals and Ronaldo. “They are the favourites and we are the underdogs. But then Spain were ahead of us in terms of a lot of things,” he said.

Regragui faces a defensive dilemma after Nayef Aguerd was injured against Spain and, with doubts about his fitness, captain Romain Saiss might be tasked to mark hat-trick hero Ramos. “It will be a problem if we think too much about Portugal. We are focusing on ourselves. We are working on our strengths,” Regragui said.

The Atlas Lions have their sights set. But Portugal won’t be easy game.

Morocco VS Portugal

HEAD TO HEAD ⚫ Mts 2 ⚫ Morocco 1 ⚫ Portugal 1 ⚫ Drawn 0

Talking tactics

Morocco: Defensive resilience, an energetic midfield and unpredictability in counterattacks make Walid Regragui’s team an exciting prospect against any team in this World Cup. There’s a flip side to their dogged football though — they have conceded more fouls (59) than any other team in Qatar. Also, despite Morocco’s enthusiastic displays — their fans play a big role in that — the Atlas Lions fought a gruelling 120-minute battle against Spain. Will that leave them tired? While Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi remain Morocco’s driving forces, Sofyan Amrabat’s calm presence on the ball and Sofiane Boufal’s creative ventures will also be key in Regragui’s 4-3-3 system.

Portugal: With or without Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have shown reliability in possession, courtesy their technically sound players. They also frequently change positions, making it difficult for opposition players to mark them. Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix are masters in this craft, opening up wide spaces for others to utilise. In Goncalo Ramos, Portugal now have a marksman about whom the opposition doesn’t know much. The youngster’s ability to be at the right place and time his efforts perfectly has come as a relief to coach Fernando Santos. But the Moroccans are tough nuts, they don’t fear pressure. This is where a Cristiano can perhaps help Santos. Few draw as much attention as he does.

Short passes

⚫ Morocco are yet to concede a goal from an opposition player in Qatar. The only goal against them came in their 2-1 win over Canada, when defender Nayef Aguerd accidentally flicked a cross past his own goalkeeper.

⚫ Before this World Cup, Portugal had reached the quarters in only 1966 and 2006 but progressed to the semis each time.

⚫ Ziyech has been directly involved in 10 of the 30 Morocco shots in the current tournament. He leads the team in both shots (6) and chances created (4).

⚫ With two strikes and three assists, Bruno has been directly involved in more goals than any other Portugal player at this World Cup.