Morocco are getting ready to qualifying for the Spherical of 16 after the stalemate with Croatia and their beautiful 2-0 victory over Belgium. Impressively, they’ve recorded successive clear sheets in a World Cup for the primary time since 1986. Their last group recreation in Qatar comes on Thursday in opposition to Canada, who can’t go any additional after failing to get a outcome of their first two video games. The Atlas Lions’ place is so robust going into the match that they can qualify for the knockout part even when they lose.
Belgium sit third within the group on three factors and do not need management of their very own future. Morocco and Croatia every have 4 factors. Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runners-up, will deal with Belgium on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, whereas Morocco and Canada do battle on the Al Thumama Stadium.
Of their return to the finals after 36 years, Canada confirmed the world that they belong after a 22-shot efficiency in opposition to No. 2 ranked Belgium, which led to worldwide reward. They adopted that efficiency up by making Canadian males’s World Cup historical past when Alphonso Davies scored the nation’s first-ever objective on the event in opposition to Croatia on Sunday. In Canada’s last recreation, the group remains to be in search of another first: a outcome.
The Sport
Location: Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Date: Thursday, December 1st
Kick-off Time: 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m ET / 1:00 p.m. GMT
Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Photos
Predicted Line-ups
Predicted Morocco XI: Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
Predicted Canada XI: Borjan; Johnston, Vitoria, Miller; Laryea, Kone, Eustaquio, Davies; Buchanan, Hoilett, David
Morocco are anticipated to make few, if any, adjustments after such an amazing outcome in opposition to Belgium. Achraf Hakimi got here off early in opposition to Belgium however ought to be out there for this match. Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui seems to be to be returning after leaving the primary recreation with Croatia complaining with a hip harm.
Canada have solely pleasure to play for and this can be an opportunity for them to provide a few of the youthful gamers an opportunity to expertise a World Cup earlier than Canada hosts the event in 2026. Ismael Kone is a kind of who might nicely begin ought to adjustments be made after coming off the bench in each earlier video games. There may be additionally some concern for FC Porto participant Stephen Eustaquio who has missed coaching due to a hamstring situation.
Closing Ideas
After scoring their first objective on the finals, Canada will hope to additionally achieve their first level after being blanked in 1986. There isn’t a doubting that there are good foundations in place and a stable youthful squad out there to take ahead to the subsequent World Cup, which they are going to qualify for as a co-host. This 12 months, the Canadians had been simply unlucky to be drawn in opposition to the second and third-placed sides from 2018, and probably the strongest group from Africa at these finals.
Morocco are favored to win the match and their wonderful defensive type will problem Canada. The all out assault of Canada shall be daunting as Canadian pleasure shall be on full show.