Key occasions
32 min: Romain Saiss picks out Ziyech with an exquisite ball out vast to the precise touchline. He advances upfield earlier than pulling the ball again into the penalty space, the place Aliostair Johnson blocks Abdelhamid Sabiri’s shot on purpose.
30 min: Youssef En-Nesyri is flagged for offside as he tries to erun on to a scooped go excessive from Hakim Ziyech.
28 min: Properly beneath the cosh, Canada proceed to wrestle to string quite a lot of passes collectively. Their central midfielder Jonathan Osario has simply been booked for some indiscretion or different.
27 min: En-Nesyri chased a protracted ball from the again, acquired between two Canada defenders and shot previous Borjan, who was crushed by the tempo of the first-time strike however virtually actually ought to have carried out higher.
25 min: Youssef En-Nesyri’s place in Morocco’s beginning line-up was in some doubt coming into this recreation however the Sevilla striker has repaid Walid Regragui’s religion in him by changing into the primary Moroccan to attain in two separate World Cups.
GOAL! Canada 0-2 Morocco (En-Nesyri 23)
Morocco double their lead! Youssef En-Nesyri scores with a positive strike, beating Milan Borjan at his close to submit after working on to a speculative ball down the channel.
21 min: Morocco win the ball again. Ziyech takes on and beats his man earlier than sliding the ball into the Canada penalty space, attempting toi pick Achraf Hakimi. His supply is wayward and Canada clear.
20 min: Mark-Anthony Kaye goes to floor after transport an unintentional arm within the face and Canada win a free-kick simply inside their very own half.
18 min: There are an enormous variety of Morocco followers within the stands, who’re whistling and jeering Canada’s gamers any time they get on the ball. It’s fairly a hostile environment.
14 min: Cyle Larin waltzes down the within proper and curls a superb low cross to the far submit. Tajon Buchanan stretches each sinew however is unable to make contact with the ball and prod it dwelling. That was a fantastic run by Larin.
13 min: Alistair Johnson robs Sofiane Boufal of the ball because the Morocco winger was shaping to cross into the penalty space. The Canada central defender sprints to stop the ball going out for a nook however is unable to take action. Nothing comes from the set piece.
11 min: Morocco proceed to boss this recreation in its early levels. Incomes some respite, Canada get out of their very own half with Tajon Buchanan galloping down the left touchline with the ball at his ft. He runs it out of play.
9 min: Ziyech whips the ball in from the nook, forcing Borjan to dam considerably unconvincingly at his close to submit.
7 min: Junior Hoilett is booked for a foul problem on Azredine Ounahi. Free-kick for Morocco, about 30 yards from the Canada purpose. Ziyech blasts the ball into the Canada wall, knocking over Vitoria, who blocked it along with his head. Nook for Morocco.
5 min: What an terrible purpose to concede. Steven Vitoria offered his goalkeeper Milan Borjan quick with a horrible backpass, forcing him to sprint out of his penalty space as Youssef En-Nesyri tried to beat him to ball. Borjan acquired to it first however performed it straight to Hakim Ziyech, who was no less than 35 yards out however immeditaely chipped the goalkeeper, who was trapped in no-man’s land and helpless to stop the ball crusing into the empty internet.
GOAL! Canada 0-1 Morocco (Ziyech 4)
Morocco lead! It’s a present from the Canadians, whose calamitous defending permits ZIyech to chip Milan Borjan.
3 min: Canada get ahead with Alphonso Davies on the ball. He seems to be taking part in on the precise wing for Canada at the moment.
1 min: Abdelhamed Sabiri collectas the ball on the left flank and switches play with a cross-field go to Hakim Ziyech. His cross into the Canada field has loads of zing. Sofiane Boufal flings himself on the ball however can’t join. It goes out for a throw-in off the again of Canada defender Alistair Johnston.
Canada v Morocco is go …
1 min: Morocco get the ball rolling, their gamers carrying white shirts, shorts and socks. The gamers of Canada are in all crimson package.
Not lengthy now: The groups march out on to the pitch and line up both facet of Brazilian referee Raphael Claus and his staff of match officers for the nationwide anthems.
Morocco: The North African facet have stored six consecutive clear sheets and performed 622 minutes of soccer since they final conceded a purpose within the eighth minute of an African Nations Cup win over South Africa in June.
Canada v Morocco: John Herdman makes three modifications to the staff that began towards Croatia. Jonathan Osorio, Mark-Anthony Kaye come into the centre of midfield, whereas Junior Hoilett begins up entrance. Stephan Eustaquio, Atuba Hutchinson and Jonathan David drop out.
There are two modifications to the Morocco facet that beat Belgium. Yassine “Bono” Bouno returns in purpose, whereas Abdelhamid Sabiri astarts on the left facet of midfield, with Selim Amallah dropping to the bench.
Croatia v Belgium: Roberto Martinez has dropped his skipper Eden Hazard from Belgium’s beginning line-up, which is pretty stunning information regardless of the participant’s poor performances in his nation’s opening two video games. Roberto Smyth has the newest on that one …
Sweepstake information: In addition to £90 for the winner and £50 for the runner-up, in my native pub’s sweepstake there’s a £20 prize for whoever picks the worst staff on this World Cup. My pal’s cocker spaniel, Norman, “picked” Qatar and wishes Canada to win, draw or lose by not more than two targets to take the comfort prize. By an incredible accident, the canine’s proprietor is a Sunderland-supporting native of Consett in County Durham and through his schooldays he was taught by Canada supervisor John Herdman.
Canada v Morocco line-ups
Canada: Milan Borjan (c), Alistair Johnston, Samuel Adekugbe, Kamal Miller, Steven Vitoria, Junior Hoilett, Tajon Buchanan, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Cyle Larin, Alphonso Davies, Jonathan Osorio
Subs: St. Clair, Piette, Fraser, Cavallini, Ugbo, Hutchinson, Kone, Pantemis, David, Laryea, Millar, Wotherspoon, Cornelius, Waterman.
Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss (c), Hakim Ziyech, Azzedine Ounahi, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Soufiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri
Subs: Hamdallah, Zaroury, Mohamedi, Chair, Aboukhlal, Amallah, Ezzalzouli, El Yamiq, Dari, Cheddira, Tagnaouti, El Khannous, Benoun, Attiyat Allah, Jabrane.
Right this moment’s match officers
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Referee: Raphael Claus
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Assistant referees: Rodrigo Figueiredo and Danilo Simon
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Fourth official: Yoshimi Yamashita
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Video Assistant Referee: Julio Bascuñan
John Herdman: “I’ve carried out 11 nice years on this nation, love the nation, love the individuals and I’m excited for 2026,” mentioned Canada’s boss, upon being requested if he deliberate to remain accountable for the staff for the subsequent World Cup, which his adopted nation is co-hosting. “I’ve been pioneering for a protracted time frame, and also you’ll not discover anybody as passionate as I’m about this program or these gamers or this workers. You gained’t discover anybody as passionate who needs to take the nation to that subsequent degree.”
Walid Regragui: “There are different coaches that wish to make you assume that they’re magicians, they’re those, they’re puppeteers,” mentioned Morocco’s supervisor in his pre-match press convention. “The gamers are those that make the coach and never the opposite method round.”
Requested about Hakim Ziyech, who returned to the Morocco fold within the wake of a 15-month absence following the dismissal of Vahid Halilhodzic, Regragui had this to say. “Lots of people discuss him, about he’s a loopy man, he’s a tough man to handle, he can’t assist the staff. For me, what I say, if you give him the love, the boldness, he can die for you. And it’s what I give him. He’s an enormous participant, taking part in on an enormous staff in Europe and also you see he’s a unique participant with the nationwide staff. The entire coaches give him the boldness, the identical with the workers.”
Early staff information
Canada’s English supervisor John Herdman has a full squad to select from however might use this recreation to offer a few of his fringe gamers some World Cup expertise. Having performed a again 4 towards Croatia, he might revert to the again 5 that served him significantly higher in Canada’s opener towards Belgium.
Morocco winger Abde Ezzalzouli is reported to be out with a hamstring harm however in any other case Walid Regragui has a full squad to select from. Following the late withdrawal of his goalkeeper Yassine Bounou by way of sickness moments earlier than the beginning of their win over Belgium, Munir Mohamedi stepped into the breach. Bounou has made a full restoration from the obvious dizziness that compelled him to tug out of the Belgium recreation and will begin at the moment.
These Group F permutations in full
Having misplaced to Belgium and Croatia, Canada can’t progress to the knockout levels regardless of the consequence of this match.
Morocco will undergo to the final 16 in the event that they draw or win. They’ll win the group in the event that they beat Canada and Croatia fail to beat Belgium. Ought to they lose they’ll want Belgium to get crushed, or Croatia to lose by two or extra targets than they do. If Morocco lose by 4 targets or extra, a draw within the different group match would outcome of their elimination.
Croatia will advance to the final 16 courtesy of a win or draw. Three factors will assure them prime spot if Morocco fail to beat Canada. If Croatia lose towards Belgium, they’ll want Canada to beat Morocco and hope their purpose distinction is superior to the North African facet.
Belgium will qualify for the final 16 with a win towards Croatia however will exit the event in the event that they lose. A draw might see Belgium by way of to the knockout levels, however solely within the unlikely occasion of Morocco shedding by 4 or extra targets towards Canada. Belgium can nonetheless prime Group F in the event that they beat Croatia and Morocco fail to beat Canada.
Group F: Canada v Morocco
The 44,400 capability Al Thumama Stadium is the venue for a match between a Canada facet that has no probability of constructing the knockout levels and Morocco, who can nonetheless advance to the final 16. A win or draw will ship the North African facet by way of however they will additionally progress in the event that they lose, relying on what occurs within the different group recreation between Belgium and Croatia, which is in fact being performed elsewhere concurrently. Kick-off is at 3pm (GMT) however keep tuned within the meantime for staff information and build-up.