And then there were eight after Morocco and Portugal joined Argentina, Netherlands, England, France, Brazil and Croatia in being the remaining sides left in the 2022 World Cup.

With little of the shocks and surprises that rocked the group stages, just when it seemed that all the favourites would advance from what appeared to be a predictable Round of 16, Morocco stunned a toothless Spain winning out on penalty kicks after 120 minutes of football saw both sides deadlocked with no breakthrough.

Spain arrived in Qatar as one of the tournament favourites, but La Roja suffered a second consecutive last-16 World Cup elimination via a penalty shoot-out after Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets all failed to convert as World Cup surprise package Morocco ran out 3-0 winners in the shoot-out.

Later on Tuesday evening Portugal cemented their place in the final eight with an emphatic 6-1 win over Switzerland as Benfica’s Gonçalo Ramos hit a hat-trick as Portugal boss Fernando Santos started the game with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench.

2022 World Cup: quarter-final fixtures

9 December: Education City Stadium: Croatia-Brazil 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT (1)

9 December: Lusail Stadium: Netherlands-Argentina 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (2)

10 December: Al Thumama Stadium: Morocco-Portugal 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT (3) 

10 December: Al Bayt Stadium: England-France 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (4)

Semi-finals

13 December: Lusail Stadium: Winner QF2-Winner QF1 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (1)

14 December: Al Bayt Stadium: Winner QF4-Winner QF3 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT (2)

Third Place play-off

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17 December: Khalifa International: Loser SF1-Loser SF2 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT

Final

18 December: Lusail Stadium: Winner SF1-Winner SF2 10:00 am ET / 07:00 am PT