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Qatar 2022: Why is Joao Cancelo not starting for Portugal vs. Morocco?

Portugal will have a challenging test to pass when they face Morocco at the Qatar 2022 quarterfinals. Find out here why Joao Cancelo is starting on the bench in this World Cup game.

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By martín o’donnell

Joao Cancelo of Portugal.
© Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty ImagesJoao Cancelo of Portugal.

Many teams are starting to say goodbye to this year’s FIFA World Cup, while others continue dreaming. Portugal hope to be one of the latter, but first they’ll have to take care of business against Morocco.

The African team has already shown its credentials at Qatar 2022, finishing as Group F leaders against all odds before pulling off a shock against Spain in the Round of 16. Now, it’s Portugal’s turn to make sure Morocco don’t produce another upset.

Fernando Santos has therefore named a star-studded starting eleven, which will have some notable absences regardless. Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Cancelo is also starting on the bench.

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Why was Joao Cancelo benched for the Portugal game against Morocco

Joao Cancelo doesn’t have any injury, so the reason he’s not starting against Morocco is a tactical decision. Santos has chosen Diogo Dalot and Raphael Guerreiro asstarting wing-backs, so the Man City star will have to wait on the bench.

How far do you think Portugal will go in this year’s World Cup?Using this World Cup Predictor, you can see every potential outcome of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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Enjoy all the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup matches from the United States through FuboTV. Click here and to take advantage of their 7-day free trial offer.

Morocco eliminate Portugal, first African team ever in World Cup semis: Highlights and goal

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Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Since joining Bolavip in February 2021, he has extensively covered soccer, NFL, and NBA, specializing in real-time coverage of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. Martin’s prior experience includes managing social media for the CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. At Bolavip, he is known for his meticulous coverage during critical sports seasons—covering trades, playoffs, and finals—and for keeping a close eye on soccer icons Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. His attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news have made him a valuable asset to the team.

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