Morocco reaches final 16 of World Cup, beats Canada 2-1

Walid Regragui stood in the course of a staff huddle as his gamers reached out and patted him vigorously on the top. Then they threw their coach within the air, virtually as if that they had already received the World Cup.

Regragui has been a world coach for less than three months however nonetheless guided Morocco to the final 16 of the World Cup for less than the second time in its historical past with a 2-1 win over Canada on Thursday. It clinched first place in Group F for Morocco, forward of 2018 finalist Croatia and semifinalist Belgium.

Walid Regragui’s squad has now collected extra victories at a single World Cup than some other Morocco staff.

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Nobody thought that was possible when the Moroccan soccer federation took a chance on the 47-year-old Regragui in August by giving him his first job in control of a nationwide staff. The payoff has been historic.

“About 50 or 60 years of Moroccan historical past. We’ve performed it in a couple of weeks,” Regragui stated.

Morocco’s two wins in Qatar, an enormous shock over Kevin de Bruyne and No. 2-ranked Belgium after which the victory over Canada at Al Thumama Stadium, is as many because the nation had received in all its earlier World Cup appearances put collectively. Morocco additionally drew its opener towards Croatia to advance unbeaten.

“We belief in him,” Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi stated of Regragui. “He’s performed an incredible job with not a lot time.”

The Moroccans’ solely earlier journey previous the group stage at a World Cup had are available 1986, when in addition they received their group, however received just one match.

Objectives by Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri delivered the victory over Canada and ensured this staff additionally went by way of.

Nayef Aguerd’s own-goal simply earlier than halftime made it 2-1 and lifted Canada sufficient for them to place stress on Morocco looking for an equalizing objective for many of the second half.

The Canadians got here agonizingly shut when a header from captain Atiba Hutchinson, who got here on as a second-half substitute, bounced down off the crossbar and onto the goal-line.

Replays confirmed a part of the ball had crossed the road however not all of it.

“Two inches. Two inches type getting our first outcome,” Canada coach John Herdman stated. “This isn’t Canada strolling away with our heads down. We are able to preserve our heads up.”

However even when his staff’s complete management immediately disappeared, Regragui was pleased with the combating spirit.

“I liked the second half as a result of that’s the spirit we had been searching for,” he stated. “First half, extraordinary. Second half, we fought.”

Canada, which can co-host the subsequent World Cup in 2026 with america and Mexico, had already been eradicated earlier than going through Morocco and misplaced all three of its video games in Qatar, matching its three defeats at its solely different World Cup look in 1986.

Herdman was sure his staff had made progress over the course of their three video games, and in addition praised their battle after a foul early error put them behind.

Steven Vitoria’s again cross put goalkeeper Milan Borjan underneath stress. However as a substitute of clearing downfield, Borjan inexplicably side-footed the ball gently within the course of Ziyech, who chipped it over Borjan and into the unguarded objective within the fourth minute.

LUCKY HEAD

Walid Regragui’s head was a spotlight for the Moroccans on the finish. They drummed their fingers up and down on his shiny bald dome throughout their joyous celebrations in what’s apparently change into a practice within the staff.

“They love touching my head,” Regragui stated. “Perhaps it brings them luck.”

NEXT FOR HERDMAN

Herdman was trying ahead to a relaxation and seeing his kids greater than anything, he stated, with an extremely busy time forward for Canadian soccer earlier than the World Cup goes to North America in 4 years.

There have been causes to be “proud,” Herdman stated, after pushing each Belgium and Morocco in slender losses in Qatar. Solely Canada’s 4-1 loss to Croatia was lopsided.

NEXT FOR MOROCCO

As Group F winner, Morocco will face Spain within the final 16. The Spanish misplaced to Japan 2-1 to complete second in Group E.

Yet another victory for Morocco will imply the nation’s first journey to the World Cup quarter-finals.

“Why not goal for the sky?” Regragui stated. “Why not dream about lifting that trophy?”