Croatia has reached the last 16 world Cup A 0-0 draw against Belgium on Thursday, whose group-stage exit would have the potential to break up its talented but underachieving generation of players. The Eastern European nation has reached at least the semi-finals after reaching the knockout stage twice. Belgium went out after scoring one goal in three matches and failing to live up to their status as the second-placed team and one of the tournament favourites.
Needing a win to be sure to progress, the Belgian produced his best performance of the World Cup and wasted two clear chances which Romelu Lukaku lost. The halftime substitute hit a shot against the post and failed to control a ball that bounced off his chest.
What has long been called Belgium’s “Golden Generation” is now set to reach its peak in the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018, featuring six players with more than 100 appearances.
Morocco reached the last 16 for just the second time at the World Cup after a 2-1 win over Canada on Thursday. The win meant it topped Group F ahead of 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia and semi-finalists Belgium. Croatia made a surprise exit after a 0–0 draw with second and No. 2-ranked Belgium. The only other trip to Morocco after the group stage came in 1986.
Official: Morocco and Croatia have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup knockouts from Group F.
Morocco top the group ahead of Croatia and Belgium!
Meanwhile, Belgium has been thrown out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.just wow! pic.twitter.com/KekYUT0Jf4– Troll Football (@UKTrollFootball) December 1, 2022
Hakim Ziyech scored for Morocco in the fourth minute after a poor error by Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan left the winger to kick the ball into an empty goal. Youssef An-Nesri scored the second goal in the 23rd minute. It looked as though the Moroccans would prevail over the Canadians. But a Nayef Aguird own goal just before halftime made the score 2–1 and put Canada high enough to put the pressure on Morocco in search of an equalizer in the second half.
Canada came surprisingly close when a header from captain Atiba Hutchinson, who had come on as a second-half substitute, bounced off the crossbar and over the goal-line. Canada, which will co-host the next World Cup in 2026 with the United States and Mexico, pulled out before the Morocco Games. It eventually lost all three of its games in Qatar, matching its three losses in 1986 in its only World Cup appearance.
The players of the Moroccan team were 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 to celebrate.
Morocco have dispelled doubts that appointing Regargui three months before the World Cup will dent their chances of reaching the last 16. Morocco started their Qatar campaign with a morale-boosting draw against Croatia and then beat Belgium 2-0. Results in international football.
Morocco have now won the same number of games in this World Cup as they have won all their previous matches in the tournament combined and is certainly on course for their best ever performance in the tournament. The North African country’s only major international football title came at the 1976 African Cup of Nations.
A poor mistake from Canada at Al Thumama Stadium gifted Morocco the opening goal 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 fired it first-time over Borjan and inadvertently into the goal.
For the second goal, Achraf Hakimi’s long ball fell between Canadian defenders Vitória and Kamal Miller, and An-Nesri followed it up and got past Borjan to put Morocco in control.
Canada got one back when Sam Adekungbe’s cross deflected off Aguirde’s right foot and went through with another touch on the right glove of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Bouno was back in goal for Morocco after missing out on Belgium’s victory when he fell ill minutes before kickoff and had to be replaced.
Canada came close to avoiding defeat for the first time in their six World Cup appearances when Hutchinson got over defenders around him in a corner and headed for goal. The ball hit the bottom of the crossbar, bounced down the line and Alastair Johnson could not power in the follow-up header. Replays showed that some part of the ball had crossed the line but not the whole. (With PTI inputs)