Morocco seal last 16 spot, Croatia squeeze – Belgium out

This news has been read 5455 times!

DOHA, Qatar, Dec 1, (AP): Morocco advanced to the last 16 at the World Cup for just the second time after clinging on for a 2-1 win over Canada on Thursday. The victory meant it finished top of Group F ahead of 2018 World Cup finalist Croatia and semifinalists Belgium. Croatia went through in second and No. 2-ranked Belgium were surprisingly eliminated after their 0-0 draw.

The Moroccans’ only other trip past the group stage came in 1986. Hakim Ziyech scored for Morocco in the fourth minute after a bad error by Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan left the winger to shoot the ball into an empty goal. Youssef En-Nesyri added a second in the 23rd. It looked then like Morocco would overrun the Canadians.

But Nayef Aguerd’s own-goal just before halftime made it 2-1 and lifted Canada enough for them to put pressure on Morocco in search of an equalizing goal for most of the second half. Canada came agonizingly close when a header from captain Atiba Hutchinson, who came on as a secondhalf substitute, bounced off the crossbar and onto the goal-line.

Canada, which will co-host the next World Cup in 2026 with the United States and Mexico, had already been eliminated before the Morocco game. They ultimately lost all three of their games in Qatar, matching their three defeats at their only other World Cup appearance in 1986. The Moroccan squad players were already jumping up and down in a huddle near the dugout well before the final whistle and coach Walid Regragui was smiling broadly and gesturing with his arms for them to keep celebrating. Morocco have swept aside doubts that appointing Regragui less than three months before the World Cup would undermine their chances of reaching the last 16.

Morocco began its Qatar campaign with a morale-boosting draw against Croatia and then beat Belgium 2-0 for arguably its best result in international soccer. Morocco have now won as many games at this World Cup as in all of their previous appearances at the tournament combined and are on course for their best performance at the tournament. The North African country’s only major international soccer title came at the 1976 African Cup of Nations. A bad Canadian error gifted Morocco the opening goal at Al Thumama Stadium when Steven Vitoria’s back pass put goalkeeper Borjan under pressure. But instead of clearing downfield, Borjan inexplicably side-footed the ball gently in the direction of Ziyech, who chipped it first-time back over Borjan and into the unguarded goal. For the second goal, Achraf Hakimi’s long ball dropped between Canada defenders Vitoria and Kamal Miller, and En-Nesyri chased it down and fired past Borjan to put Morocco in control. Canada got one back when Sam Adekugbe’s cross deflected off the right foot of Aguerd and in via another touch off goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s right glove.

Bounou was back in goal for Morocco after missing the Belgium win when he fell ill minutes before kickoff and had to be replaced. Canada came within a whisker of avoiding defeat for the first time in its six World Cup matches when Hutchinson rose over the defenders around him at a corner and headed goalward. The ball crashed into the underside of the crossbar, bounced down on the line and Alistair Johnston couldn’t force in a follow-up header. Replays showed part of the ball had crossed the line but not all of it. The win and a place in the round of 16 at the World Cup was there for Belgium. All the team needed was for Romelu Lukaku to score as the ball reached him in front of goal in the final seconds. Somehow, he missed. Belgium and their aging generation of players were eliminated after a 0-0 draw with Croatia, which advanced as the second-place team in Group F behind Morocco.

While Croatia – the 2018 runners-up and a 1998 semifinalists – aim for another deep run at the World Cup, Belgium are facing the breakup of their talented but underachieving squad after failing to live up to their status as the second-ranked team and one of the tournament favorites. Lukaku, who came on as a half-time substitute and squandered several great chances, punched the side of the dugout as he walked off, knocking the plexiglass screen out of place. Not only did he fail to guide in that late chance from close range, he hit a shot against the post with the goal beckoning. Another chance, from a header in front of goal, sailed over the bar, but it’s not clear if the goal would have counted. What has long been called Belgium’s “Golden Generation” – now featuring six players with more than 100 appearances – is set to split with the World Cup semifinal appearance in 2018 as its peak.

This news has been read 5455 times!