A single Cristiano Ronaldo goal after four minutes was enough to oust Morocco from the World Cup, with the North African side trying hard but ultimately failing to make their dominant display at the Luzhniki Stadium count for anything.
As the game drew on and Herve Renard’s team turned the screw in an increasingly desperate search of an equaliser, it should come as little surprise that good old Pepe resorted to his usual loathsome tactics to counteract the pressure and siphon away the time.
Amid a crowded box, the Portuguese defender tangled with opposite number Medhi Benatia, leading to the former hitting the deck in spectacular fashion after being tapped on the shoulder…
Please keep Pepe in your prayers after this assault from Benatia 😱 #PORMAR #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/UbYwFtEQld
— World Cup Goals (@FIFAWCGoals) June 20, 2018
Despicable, reprehensible, embarrassing, anti-football – call it what you will and rest assured that Pepe does not care one little bit.