Morocco are just one of several nations causing the world to sit up and take note of them. The African heavyweights have proved to be a tough customer – recording two clean sheets in their two outings this campaign. I think they will make it 3 on the trot en reroute to the last 16.
To Win Match
Canada 14/5 | Draw 9/4 | Morocco 20/21
With two defeats in two fixtures, Canada will be heading home after this fixture. Their crowning moment came when 22-year-old Alphonso Davies netted his nations first World Cup goal.
After entering the field in their previous bout with Croatia, Canada opened the scoring within the first two minutes thanks to the star winger’ outstanding header. Indeed, that encounter between Croatia and Canada might not have been what you anticipated, with a verbal battle going on beforehand.
Prior to the game, Canada’s English manager John Herdman declared they would “eff” Croatia; in response, the opposing manager Zlatko Dalic said that was not a “show of respect.” It was Dalic’s men who handed the Canucks their marching orders, after dispatching them 4-1.
That result meant that Canada have lost all 5 of their World Cup games in total – only El Salvador (6) have played more games whilst losing on every occasion. They are up against a Morocco outfit who are poised to book their place in the last 16.
With late goals from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal, Morocco defeated Belgium in the World Cup’s most recent upset. Inexplicably allowing Sabiri’s in swinging free-kick to beat him at his near post with 17 minutes remaining, Thibaut Courtois was at fault for the opening goal.
The Moroccans capped a great second-half performance when Aboukhlal fired Ziyech’s cutback into the roof of the net in stoppage time, with the entire Belgium team suffering the price of a sluggish performance. Thousands of Morocco supporters, who had already created a boisterous scene, erupted in wild jubilation in the Al Thumama Stadium stands as a result.
Morocco dispatched Canada 4 nil in the previous meeting between these two sides, with Hakim Ziyech netting a brace in that one. Keep an eye on him in this one.
Verdict: Morocco (20/21)
Morocco will come into this one knowing that a spot in the last 16 could be theirs. Their shock 2 nil win over Belgium put them in prime position to do so, but they will need to avoid defeat over a Canada side who have already crashed out of the competition.
