World Cup: Morocco earn stunning 2-0 win over Belgium - reaction

1. Sabiri puts Morocco in front with free-kick that beats Courtois at near post
2. Aboukhlal deservedly doubles their lead in stoppage time
3. Croatia v Canada (16:00 GMT) follows in Group F
4. Spain face Germany (19:00) in Group E after Costa Rica stun Japan

The whistling by Morocco fans is still there but it does feel like it is getting quieter.

Why?

Because Belgium are just passing the ball from side to side, taking any initial sting out of the game.

Dion Dublin

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

That's better from Belgium. They move it one or two touch from the middle of the pitch out to the left and a it was a great run from Batshuayi.

'Slick from Belgium'

Jermaine Jenas

Former England midfielder on BBC One

That was slick from Belgium. The ball from Thorgan Hazard matched the brilliance of the run from Michy Batshuayi. I'm not sure the shot was even on target but the thought process behind the move was good.

GREAT SAVE!

Breathtaking football from Belgium.

Eden Hazard's pass is initially array, but it comes back to Michy Batshuayi.

He lays off for Eden Hazard, who in turn finds brother Thorgan on the left wing.

He threads through for Batshuayi, who strikes left-footed, but Yassine Bounou spreads himself wide to turn behind.

A slight delay as Youssef En-Nesyri goes down with a head injury after being caught by a stray elbow from Kevin de Bruyne.

He's fine to continue, though.

Like a home game for Morocco

Chris Bevan

BBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar

Getty Images

A huge roar went up at Al Thumama Stadium when Morocco won the ball for the first time. Their fans are everywhere, and this feels like a home game for them - they don't stop whistling when Belgium have the ball either.

'Pressure on the referee'

Jermaine Jenas

Former England midfielder on BBC One

The referee is going to be under immense pressure throughout this whole game with this atmosphere.

There are loud whistles every time Belgium touch the ball.

It is like being in Rabat.

'Morocco fans have taken over'

Jermaine Jenas

Former England midfielder on BBC One

The atmosphere in here is just electric, the Morocco fans have taken over this stadium and it is going to have an impact on the game. Morocco want a win and they need a win.

Hakim Ziyech does really well to break for Morocco, albeit potentially fouling Timothy Castagne in the process.

He carries the ball forward but his cross into the middle is overhit and straight into the hands of Thibaut Courtois.

'Opportunity for Ziyech'

Didier Drogba

Former Ivory Coast striker on BBC One

It's hard to get any rhythm when you aren't playing regularly. It's going to be tough but this is a great opportunity for Hakim Ziyech.

KICK-OFF

Belgium get us under way.

Can they secure a last-16 spot?

'Complaining won't help Belgium'

Pablo Zabaleta

Ex- Man City and Argentina defender on BBC One

Belgium have good enough players to beat any team at this World Cup but if they keep complaining about so many things and you're not right at it, it's going to be difficult for them.

Just enjoy it, go out there and give everything that you can. They missed a chance in 2018 but learn from that experience and just enjoy it.

Dion Dublin

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Morocco's was the noisiest national anthem I've heard since I've been at this World Cup. I actually took my headphones off to listen to it. It was pretty special.

Let's get the football going and let's see if we can get some goals.

Belgium captain Eden Hazard has just given Morocco counterpart Roman Saiss a little gift bag at the toss.

Some chocolate, maybe? Belgium beer?

Morocco making themselves heard

Chris Bevan

BBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar

BBC Sport

It's anthem time. This stadium is a very long way from being full, but the Morocco fans are here in numbers and have already been making themselves heard in the run-up to kick-off.

The national anthems are done.

"Wow. I've just got shivers after that," says Guy Mowbray after the Morocco one.

It was seriously loud and animated from their fans.

Hazard calls for protection

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Belgium winger Eden Hazard has called on World Cup referees to protect forward players.

The former Chelsea winger was the second-most fouled player in the first round of matches, behind Brazil's Neymar, who suffered ankle ligament damage and is out of the remainder of the group stage.

"I always say if there is a foul on me it means I have the ball, so it's a good sign, it's part of my game," 31-year-old Hazard said.

"More players with the ball like me, like Neymar, like Vinicius Junior, we can receive fouls. We have to deal with it. There is no problem, it's part of the game.

"I just hope opponents can have yellow cards more often than now, because then they will stop the fouls. But it's part of the game, if you don't want to get fouled don't get the ball, that's it."

Hazard has played just over 70 minutes of football for Real Madrid this season but he said "so far I'm feeling great" and that the recovery period "is going very well".

Stat attack

• This is the second meeting between Belgium and Morocco at the Fifa World Cup, with Belgium winning 1-0 in 1994.
• Morocco won their last meeting with Belgium in all competitions, winning 4-1 in a friendly in March 2008.
• Belgium have never lost a World Cup match against an African nation before (W3 D1), with all of these meetings coming in the group stage of the competition. Their most recent such match was a 5-2 win over Tunisia in 2018.

• Belgium have won each of their last eight group stage games at the World Cup. A win here would see them become the first nation ever to win nine consecutive group games at the tournament (including second and final group rounds).
• Morocco have failed to score in 53% of their World Cup matches (9/17) – coming into the second round of games, it's the joint-highest percentage of any nation to have played more than 10 games in the competition.

• Morocco have won just two of their 17 World Cup matches (D6 L9), with each of their last two games finishing level. They've lost their second group stage match in four of their five previous appearances at the competition, with the exception being a goalless draw with England in 1986 in the only edition they progressed to the knockout rounds.

Watch out for Bilal El Khannouss off the bench

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One of Morocco's four Belgium-born players is also one of the 10 players to watch picked out by our TV and radio commentators.

He didn't get off the bench against Croatia but will Bilal El Khannouss get his chance to shine as a substitute today?

Guy Mowbray: El Khannouss is one of those potential World Cup gems - an uncapped teenage talent.

The midfielder has been rewarded for becoming a Genk regular this season and has the technical ability to be a proper player. He plays in an attacking midfield role, and is slowly gaining in the confidence needed to back up what he's got with numbers - assists and goals.

The best story would have that manifesting itself in Morocco's second group game - against the country of his birth and home, Belgium.