Qatar 2022 World Cup: Morocco surprised everyone and remained in group F after beating Canada

Neither the runner-up in the world nor the favorite Belgium nor the growing selected by Canada. The blow in group F, one of the most even in the World Cup in Qatar, was given by Morocco. And she did it right. They beat the Canadians 2-1 and qualified for the second time in its history to the round of 16 final of a World Cup. Now wait for the second in the group of Spain and Germany.

Is a surprise? Yes of course. Because in the previous one the Moroccan team was perhaps the one that generated the least expectations. But on the pitch, in the three games played, he was no less than any of his rivals.

This afternoon in Doha quickly sorted things out. In the 3rd minute they took advantage of a poor start by Canada and took the lead on the scoreboard. Vitória did not know what to do in the face of pressure from a rival, they gave a bad pass to Bojan and the goalkeeper solved it even worse: pass to Ziyech, who he just had to aim for the bow score 1-0.

Bearing in mind that a draw was enough for Morocco to progress to the round of 16, that goal gave them the necessary peace of mind. And from there he continued to play the first half, with the ball at his feet, building on his figure Hakimi, Messi’s teammate at PSG, and looking for the speed of his attackers, very dangerous in one-on-one situations.

The second came shortly after, right along that route. A long ball allowed Sampaoli’s Sevilla striker En Nesyri, who shot hard at the near post to overcome another weak reply from Bojan: 2-0 and party in a stadium with a majority of Moroccan fans.

With the double lead, Morocco turned off the radio and forgot what was happening in the other group match between Croatia and Belgium, even knowing that the Africans’ position in the round of 16 would come from there. That light-heartedness was noticed in the match: Regragui’s team continued with the initiative and saw how the opponent, beaten by two goals, was unable to face them.

But football is unpredictable and when you least expected it, and even less deserved it, Canada was able to make discounts. It was, moreover, with a goal against Aguerdwho deflected a ball that goalkeeper Bono was unable to save.

In the second half the story would be different. Morocco gave up the initiative completely and invited the Canadian national team to show something of everything that was hinted at in the World Cup preview. But the North American team has been lukewarm and especially Alphonso Davies, the figure of him. Canada came up against a flawless Sofyan Amrabat in center, cutting off any rival attempts and pulling his team out of the back. And he didn’t know how to build on the sides.

Just in the last 15 minutes, the team that won the Conmebol qualifiers made their opponent suffer. He had it with a shot which hit the crossbar, went on the line and which Alistair Johnston was unable to push. He was even emboldened to send Bojan into the rival box to seek a heartbreaking equalizer in stoppage time.

Eventually equality would not come. Morocco celebrated their second victory in Qatar, qualified first in the group and are now waiting for a rival. It can be any of the four teams in group E, which will be decided today. But that will be another story. the party of lions of the atlas It has just begun and beware of those who dare to finish it. Belgium and Canada could not. The two went home.

Information for Argentine believers: the only time that Morocco had reached the round of 16 it had been in Mexico 1986, that of Argentina’s last world title.