[골닷컴] Reporter Kang Dong-hoon = Morocco broke all the experts’ expectations and managed to advance to the round of 16. 36 years have passed since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, and this is the second knockout stage in history. It is also meaningful as he beat the obvious rivals in Group F and managed to progress to the round of 16 in first place.
According to Opta, a real sports statistics company, the probability of Morocco going to the round of 16 was only 29.3%. However, after drawing 0-0 with Croatia, Morocco unexpectedly lost to Belgium 2-0, and managed to advance to the round of 16 by defeating Canada on the same day.
Morocco won 2-1 in the final Group F match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar against Canada held at the Al Tumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar at 0:00 am (Korea time) on the 2nd.
Morocco, who won that day, advanced to the round of 16 by rising to first place in Group F (2 wins, 1 draw, 5 points). This is the first time in Morocco’s history that they have won two games in the World Cup group stage. Not only that, they only have 2 total wins in the last 5 World Cups. It is literally writing new history in this competition.
Coach Walid Legraghi (France) took a 4-3-3 formation. Sophia Bupal (Angers), Youssef En Nesiri (Sevilla), and Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) competed as the top three. Abdelhamid Sabiri (Huddersfield), Sofiang Amrabat (Fiorentina) and Azzedine Unahi (Angers) kept their backs.
From the left, Nusair Mazrawi (Bayern Munich), Romain Sais (Besiktas), Naif Aguerde (West Ham United) and Ashraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) formed the defensive line. Goalkeeper gloves were worn by Yasin Bono (Sevilla).
Against this, Canada came out with a 4-4-2 formation. In front were Junior Hoillet (Reading) and Kyle Larin (Club Brugge). Alfonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Marc-Anthony Kay, Jonathan Osorio (above Toronto), and Stephen Vittoria (Chávez) applied. The goal was saved by Milan Borjan (Zvezda).
As expected, Morocco, whose atmosphere was well ahead, took an early lead. In the 4th minute of the first half, in the defensive camp, in addition to Victoria’s back pass error, the goalkeeper Milan Borjan also abused the ball, and Ziyech calmly pushed it into the empty goal with a shot left foot.
Morocco scored while riding the extra goal flow. In the 23rd minute of the first half, Hakimi, who was at the back, immediately correctly connected a long pass to the front, and En Nesiri, who quickly penetrated between the defensive lines and caught the ball, rebounded the net with powerful power. a shot
But Canada wasn’t too bad. With a lucky return goal, they closed the gap and chased. In the 40th minute of the first half, Sam Adekibi’s (Hataispor) cross hit Aguard’s foot and led to an own goal. The first half ended with Morocco leading 2-1.
Manager John Herdman (England) made the new person first. In the 15th minute of the second half, Ativa Hutchinson (Besiktas), Ismael Corne (Montreal), and Jonathan David (Lille) replaced Larin, Adeburki and Kay. Morocco also chose to change. In the 20th minute of the second half, Bupal and Sabiri were removed and Zakaria Abukral (Toulouse) and Selim Amala (Standard Liege) were added.
Going into the middle of the second half, there was a lull, and neither had a chance to shoot. No points were scored either. In the end, there was no change in the score in the remaining time, and the game ended with Morocco winning 2-1. Morocco progressed to the round of 16, and Canada was eliminated from the group stage.
