Heading into this final group-stage match, they already knew they were out. But this match still had huge importance attached to it — especially with their next World Cup match being as joint-hosts in 2026. They badly wanted that win to break the men’s team’s losing streak at a World Cup — having lost all three of their group matches in 1986, and were zero from two from into this match. We’ve seen them play courageously and they were lucky not to take a point, at least, off Belgium. They failed to live up to Herdman’s brash assertion they were going to “F Croatia” as they fell 4-1 to the 2018 finalists, distinctly second best. But perhaps this was going to be the match where they created their own slice of Canadian history.
But it was not to be. It was not for want of trying, but they put themselves on the back foot with that calamitous Ziyech goal and from then on they were chasing shadows. They had more possession in the second half and how they’ll lament their luck as Hutchinson’s header somehow stayed the wrong side of the line. Had the ball bounced differently, and there been a bit more conviction, Canada could have got that elusive “result” they were after.
Player ratings (1 = worst, 10 = best)
Canada: Milan Borjan 5, Alistair Johnston 6, Kamal Miller 6, Steven Vitoria 6, Sam Adekugbe 6, Mark-Anthony Kaye 6, Jonathan Osorio 5, Alphonso Davies 7, Cyle Larin 5, Tajon Buchanan 6, Junior Hoilett 7.
Subs: Jonathan David 6, Atiba Hutchinson 7, Ismael Kone 6, Richie Laryea 6, David Wotherspoon 6.
Morocco: Yassine Bounou 6, Achraf Hakimi 8, Nayef Aguerd 6, Romain Saiss 6, Noussair Mazraoui 7, Sofyan Amrabat 7, Azzedine Ounahi 6, Abdelhamid Sabiri 6, Hakim Ziyech 7, Sofiane Boufal 7, Youssef En-Nesyri 7.
Subs: Zakaria Aboukhlal 5, Selim Amallah 6, Yahya Jabrane, Abderrazak Hamdallah 5, Jawad El Yamiq 6.
Best and worst performers
BEST: Achraf Hakimi
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back was outstanding for Morocco. He was an attacking threat and, when his team struggled to get out of their own half, Hakimi’s defensive work was superb in keeping Canada at bay.
WORST: Milan Borjan
It’s harsh, as apart from that error, he had a solid game and even put in a decent cross when joining the attack in second-half stoppage time, but for his role in the first goal with his poor clearance it has to be the goalkeeper.
Highlights and notable moments
Ziyech’s long-range opener with Borjan stranded was the worst possible start for Canada.
Another look at the play that gifted Morocco an early goal vs Canada 👀🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/ebXhoLXN6i
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
En-Nesyri then gave Morocco what proved to be the winning goal with his blistering pace and sharp finish.
TWO FOR MOROCCO 🇲🇦
What a start 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jxeP42czX9
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
Canada came this close to claiming their first-ever point at a men’s World Cup finals.
Canada was INCHES away from tying the game 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hPuR3E4cFf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
After the match: What the players and managers said
Postmatch quotes will appear here…
Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information)
Hakim Ziyech opened the scoring with his 19th international goal for Morocco, and his first at a World Cup finals. It was the ninth scored from outside the box in Qatar so far, while there were 22 scored across the whole group stage at Russia 2018.
Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd scored the first own goal at the 2022 World Cup. By comparison, there were 12 in Russia four years ago, with none of those coming in the group stage.
Youssef En-Nesyri’s two career World Cup goals tie three other players for the most in Morocco’s history, though En-Nesyri is the first Moroccan player to score at two different World Cups.
Morocco join Ghana (2006, 2010), Senegal (2002, 2022) and Nigeria (1994, 1998, 2014) as the only African teams to reach the World Cup knockout phase more than once.
Morocco’s haul of seven points in the group stage is the most ever for an African side at a World Cup. The previous record by a CAF side had been six.
Morocco and Senegal’s advancement marks the second time that two African nations have reached the World Cup knockout phase in a single tournament, after Algeria and Nigeria advanced in 2014. Cameroon and Ghana could also still qualify for the round of 16.
Canada’s record of six defeats from six matches as World Cup finals ties them with El Salvador for the worst record in tournament history. A third CONCACAF nation, Honduras, has played nine World Cup finals matches without winning, although they have drawn three of their matches.
Up next
Canada: Herdman’s team are not scheduled to play next until almost four months from now, when they play their final two fixtures in Group C of the CONCACAF Nations League. They travel to Curacao for their match on March 25 before hosting Honduras three days later.
Morocco: The Atlas Lions will face the runners-up in Group E — which comprises Spain, Japan, Costa Rica and Germany — at Education City Stadium on Tuesday at 6 p.m. local time/10 a.m. ET.
