Canada and Morocco will square off in Group F of the 2022 World Cup. This game will be played in Qatar’s Al Thumama Stadium.
Morocco has been the surprise package of the World Cup so far, keeping clean sheets and picking up results against 2018’s second and third-placed nations, Croatia and Belgium.
Those results have placed Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions in a position for Morocco to reach the last 16 for the first time since 1986 — they only need a result, in any capacity.
For Canada, it has been a World Cup of near-jubilation, but ultimate despair. Les Rouges may feel they were hard done by in their opener against Belgium as Alphonso Davies missed a penalty and a couple of potential calls went against them, but they were ruthlessly cut open by Croatia last time out
Team news
John Herdman should make changes to the Maple Leaf’s line-up for this final game.
Junior Hoilett, Ismael Kone and Jonathan Osorio will compete to start while star forward Jonathan David has underwhelmed at the World Cup.
Achraf Hakimi came off early for Morocco against Belgium and will be monitored before this match.
Kickoff – 16:00 G.M.T
Venue – AL-Thumama Stadium.
Venue – AL-Thumama Stadium.
Morocco possible XI
Yaccine Bono; Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saïss, Noussair Mazraoui; Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah; Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal
Canada possible XI
Milan Borjan; Alistair Johnston, Steven Vitória, Kamal Miller; Richie Laryea, Atiba Hutchinson, Stephen Eustáquio, Alphonso Davies; Taejon Buchanan, Cyle Larin, Jonathan David
Odds/prediction
Our supercomputer gives Morocco a 46.5% chance of taking three points from this one, with the draw rated a 26.2% shot. A Canada win should not be entirely written off though.
Herdman’s side was impressive in getting through to the World Cup and will want to show a final flourish, with their prospects of a win rate at 27.3%.
