The fateful penalty shootout has once again crossed Spain's World Cup path and once again in the round of 16. This was also a barrier for the National Team four years ago during the experience in Russia in 2018.

This time it was Morocco who determined the fate of the National Team. A team that tried in every possible way, including coming to a coin toss for a penalty shoot out.

Initially, the coach presented a team with almost half of its players being those of the starting eleven of the previous match against Japan. Marcos Llorente made his debut on the right, Jordi Alba returned to the left-back, Laporte at the center of defense and Marco Asensio as a reference up front.

Spain monopolized the ball with an aggressive and orderly Morocco Swaiting, trusting the speed of the counter attackers and actions from free kicks like the one executed by Achraf after twelve minutes.

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Walid Regragui's men showed problems in getting the ball out. One of which Gavi and Ferran put Bono in trouble before Marco Asensio took a shot on goal which ended in the side of the net for one of Spain’s best chances in the first half.

Unai Simón kept the Spanish goal locked down for his part during a first half that went goalless at halftime.

After the restart, Spain tried more on the left flank, where Dani Olmo emerged to take the lead in an attack with a free kick in the first third of the second half.

Half an hour from the final whistle, Luis Enrique brought on Carlos Soler, Álvaro Morata and shortly after Nico Williams to give a final push to the offense of the National Team that was about to score taking advantage of two runs on the right of the Pamplona player.

Pablo Sarabia took a shot to the post in the last play of extra time.

With Unai practically unheard of throughout the second half, Spain pressed its options until the end against Morocco. Bono's saving hand was found in Dani Olmo's shot to lead the knockout to overtime.

In extra time, the National Team kept trying with Morata as the reference up front, enjoying a couple of good chances but suffering a deadly one-on-one between Chedrri and Unai Simón, which the Alava goalkeeper broke up to the relief of the National Team.

Nico Williams played aggressively until his last minute when extra time was running out and Sarabia came in to replace the Navarrese, who was to shoot in the last and final opportunity to avoid a penalty shootout that became inevitable.