World Cup 2022 LIVE: Morocco vs Spain team news and line-ups as Marcos Llorente starts but no Alvaro Morata

Morocco have the defensive resolution to frustrate Spain but ultimately there are more attacking reinforcements on the Europeans’ bench than on the Africans’.

Spain to progress after extra time, 2-1.

There is just one change to the Moroccan team that defeated Canada 2-1 in their last game of the groups stages. Selim Amallah comes into the midfield to replace Abdelhamid Sabiri.

Luis Enrique meanwhile makes five changes to the Spanish side. There are three new defenders in Aymeric Laporte, Marcos Llorente and Jordi Alba whilst Ferran Torres and Marco Asensio join Dani Olmo up top.

Morocco XI: Bounou; Mazraoui, Aguerd, Saiss, Hakimi; Amrabat, Amallah, Ounahi; Boufal, En-Nesyri, Ziyech

Spain XI: Simon, Llorente, Rodri, Laporte, Alba, Busquets, Gavi, Pedri, Ferran, Asensio, Olmo

The match starts at 3pm GMT on Tuesday 6 December and this fixture will be broadcast live on ITV 1 and STV and can be streamed via the ITV Hub and STV Player.

The Independent will be covering this game and all others at the World Cup via our live blogs.

In a World Cup which has already seen several nations breaking their own records and setting new highs, Morocco joined in on Thursday to hit new heights in national team history.

Their final group stage game saw them triumph 2-1 over Canada to not just seal progression into the knockout stages in Qatar, but also finish top of the Group F quartet.

Nigeria, and the World Cup of France ‘98, was the last time an African nation managed to achieve that feat. A generation has passed since then, of players and of supporters and of heroes of the continent – and between that finals and these ones, Morocco had won precisely zero games at the World Cup.

Both teams are likely to have a fully fit squad to choose from for this match.

Morocco’s line-up is pretty much set in stone unless head coach Walid Regragui springs a tactical surprise, perhaps adding another more defensive-minded player in midfield.

Luis Enrique needs to decide who flanks Alvaro Morata in attack, as well as whether to change his central defensive pairing after defeat to Japan last time out.

MAR – Bounou, Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui, Amrabat, Ounahi, Sabiri, Ziyech, Boufal, En-Nesyri

ESP – Simon, Carvajal, Rodri, Torres, Alba, Busquets, Gavi, Pedri, Ferran, Morata, Olmo

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the final day of last-16 action from the Qatar World Cup. There are two matches taking place this afternoon and evening with the only African side left in the competition hoping to reach the quarter-finals.

First up Morocco take on Spain in what will be a tough encounter for Walid Regragui’s men. A brilliant group stage saw them finish top of Group F with wins over Belgium and Canada conceding just one goal across their three matches. Yet their opponents today are a different class.

Spain have youth and pace on their side and are not afraid to take the attack to the opposition. A final group game loss to Japan will have hardened their resolve and they’ll look to capitalise on early chances to take the match away from Morocco.

Then in the evening Cristiano Ronaldo is in action once again as Portugal face Switzerland. This should be more of an even affair but Portugal should have enough quality to get past the impressive Swiss.

Stick around as we bring you all the action from today’s games.