The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group F Canada v Morocco clash that says farewell to Canada and is key to the Belgium v Morocco battle for the last knockout stage place from Group F.
With so many games and so little time, our Group F Canada v Morocco Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group F Canada v Morocco Match Centre.
KICKOFF – THURSDAY 1ST DEC – 18:00 (QATAR) 15:00 (UK) 02:00 (AEDT)
Group F Canada v Morocco Match Review
Morocco have claimed top spot of Group F with a hard fought 2-1 win over a determined Canada where the winners scored all three goals. The 0-0 draw in the Croatia v Belgium game doing Morocco a favour as well.
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
2’ Min A lot of whistling early on whenever Canada touch the ball. We’re not sure if that is Moroccan fans voicing their displeasure at Canada, or if it is Canadian fans with a new style of support the world isn’t ready for, or there is a breed of cricket unique to the desert sands of Qatar that has made it into the ground somehow.
4’ Min GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL FOR MOROCCO
What a gift for Morocco. Canadian keeper Milan Borjan comes out of his box to meet a dangerous looking pass from Morocco, but his clearance goes straight to Hakim Ziyech who simply chips it over the keeper into the open goal. What a massive goal for Morocco as they take top spot in Group F for the time being.
MOROCCO 1 CANADA 0
10’ Min Corners, Free Kicks, general play, Morocco are all over Canada here, but a second goal doesn’t come just yet.
14’ Min Decent chance for Canada as Cyle Larin fires in a low cross for Tajon Buchanan and his outstretched boot (and leg of course) just misses connection.
23’ Min GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL FOR MOROCCO
Morocco celebrate as a second goal gives them a mandate to cheer about knockout football, and it is Youssef En-Nesyri who is the goal scorer. The goal was setup by a defence splitting pass from inside their own half, and Youssef En-Nesyri took the ball well, avoided the would be defenders and nailed the shot past the Canadian keeper. Quality goal really.
MOROCCO 2 CANADA 0
33’ Min Despite being 2-0 down and out of contention for knockout stages, Canada show some real determination to stop a dangerous Moroccan attack with a desperate diving clearance. All credit to them for continuing to put in a shift.
38’ Min GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL FOR CANADA
An attack from Canada down their left sees Sam Adekugbe fire in a cross to the penalty area and instead of being met by a fellow Canadian the ball is met by the outstretched leg of Nayef Aguerd who deflects the ball just enough to get it past his own keeper for an own goal despite the keeper getting a finger tip to it. Is there still another surprise left in Group F?
MOROCCO 2 CANADA 1
45’ +1 Min Morocco’s Selim Amallah scores in the aftermath of a Moroccan free kick, but it is ruled out for offside from the rebound. Poor Amallah did not notice the flag or referee and continued to party alone to celebrate his goal.
HALF TIME – MOROCCO 2 CANADA 1
55’ Min Morocco are in control of the game as they were in the first half, but the chances a fewer so far in the half. Morocco may be happy with the 2-1 win, which they probably should be.
57’ Min Alphonso Davies has a shot on goal but pushes it wide. Despite Canada’s poor results, Davies will be able to hold his head highest. He has certainly done himself no harm at this World Cup with his showcase of speed and skill.
62’ Min An hour gone of this game and the stat appears on screen that the two teams had equal possession %, further underlining the good job Canada are doing. It’s good to see a side desperate to score in their position. You could look to the Croatia-Belgium game and see a side there that looked like they didn’t want to score at all despite a knockout place being on the line.
71′ Min Oh Canada come oh so close to a deserved equaliser. Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson sends a missile of a header towards goal and it smashes into the crossbar and bounces down and must go within an inch of going over the line. As the ball bounces back up a follow up header from Canada goes over the bar. Shame, they deserved that on the balance of play from the last 10-15 minutes.
And in context a draw may knock out Morocco depending on the result from the other game.
90′ Min Four minutes of added time to play. The last part of this second half has flatlined a little as Morocco look to have settled for the 2-1 win. But that hasn’t stopped Canada from pressing and pressing.
90′ +2 Min Some real late match entertainment from Canada as their keeper Borjan not only comes up for the corner, but hangs around to play a bit. It does leave Canada open to an open goal counter attack, but the Canadian defence reacts quick enough to back him up in a final show of a determined effort. But in the end Morocco get to celebrate topping Group F and heading into the knockout stage.
Final Score
CANADA 1
Nayef Aguerd (og) 38′
MOROCCO 2
Hakim Ziyech 4′ Youssef En-Nesyri 23′
HT Morocco 2-1
Player of the Match
Hakim Ziyech
Points of Interest
- We’re sure we sure Gianni Infantino at the Croatia-Belgium game, yet here he is as the Canada-Morocco match. Does the FIFA boss in fact have super powers, or are we just going loco from too many early mornings in a row.
- A word on Canada if we can. Their second half performance was immense, for a side down 2-1 and already pushed out of knockout contention before this final game, their effort was highly impressive. Something other teams who underwhelmed with a lot more talent should take notice of.
Group F Canada v Morocco Match Stats
Group F Canada v Morocco Starting Teams
CANADA (4-4-2)
18 Borjan
2 Johnston
5 Vitória
4 Miller
3 Adekugbe
19 Davies
21 Osorio
14 Kaye
11 Buchanan
17 Larin
10 Hoilett
MOROCCO (4-3-3)
1 Bono
2 Hakimi
5 Aguerd
6 Saïss
3 Mazraoui
8 Ounahi
4 S Amrabat
11 Sabiri
7 Ziyech
19 En-Nesyri
17 Boufal
Group F Canada v Morocco Match Preview
Why should you care?
You can watch Canada one more time. Despite already bowing out, they have been fun. Alphonso Davies as a star for future World Cup we hope.
But in reality, with these final group games being played at the same time, the big game is Belgium v Croatia, so this is one for the
Who should you care about?
Alphonso Davies. Sample what he has to offer one more time before he heads back to the Bundesliga. He’ll probably still score even if Canada don’t win.
Hakim Ziyech is the Morocco man to watch, with his sharp free kicks, or skillful attacking raids down the sides of the field, he can be a thing of magnificence.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
Morocco have never played a CONCACAF Team at the World Cup. But their record against non European opponents is poor – four losses from four games.
Who will win?
Canada 1 Morocco 1
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
How does the table stand?
Team / Played / Points / Goals Scored / Goals Conceded / Goal Difference
| Croatia | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Morocco | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Belgium | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| Canada | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
