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Morocco has been Canada's biggest challenge since the start of the tournament. Photo: Reuters . |
After securing their first World Cup knockout victory thanks to a late goal from Stephen Eustaquio against South Africa, Canada continued to harbor hopes of achieving a new milestone as they faced Morocco in the Round of 16.
Jesse Marsch and his team are writing a new chapter in the history of French football, but they face a more experienced and widely considered superior opponent.
Canada entered the match with great confidence. The North American team had scored in six consecutive matches and impressed with their energetic style of play, particularly their high-pressure pressing.
Coach Marsch also received positive news as Alphonso Davies has returned from injury and is ready to compete for a starting spot, while Jonathan David remains the biggest hope in attack.
However, Morocco is not an easy opponent to defeat. The African representative just eliminated the Netherlands on penalties and became the first African team to win in the knockout rounds of two different World Cups.
Under new coach Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco has shifted from a defensive counter-attacking style to a more possession-based approach with a 4-2-3-1 formation. They completed 801 passes against the Netherlands and are currently on a nine-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.
History is not on Canada's side either. The Maple Leaf team has never beaten Morocco at the men's national team level, including a 1-2 defeat in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. Nevertheless, coach Marsch insists this is a completely different encounter, between two teams that have changed significantly compared to four years ago.
If Canada overcomes Morocco, they will reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. However, with the experience of a team that reached the semi-finals in 2022 and a squad of quality players like Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, and Ismael Saibari, Morocco is still considered the stronger contender for a place in the next round.
Source: https://znews.vn/dien-bien-canada-morocco-post1666224.html
