What the world is saying about Canada’s loss to Morocco at FIFA World Cup 2022: ‘Leave with plenty of admirers’

Stepping on the pitch with Morocco on Thursday, Canada had nothing to lose and everything to gain at the World Cup in Qatar.

Les Rouges needed a draw or a win to make Canadian men’s soccer World Cup history but they couldn’t make it happen, falling 2-1. The 2022 FIFA World Cup showed that Canada belonged at the table but when it came time to eat they only came up with morsels.

This is what the rest of the world is saying about the match (with web links to original stories:

The Telegraph (U.K.):

But, boy, did Canada make Morocco work for those final three points that sealed their eminence. Sometimes, just sometimes, losers deserve plaudits. Canada had so much going for them — skill, effort, not to mention Alphonso Davies — they really ought to have collected more. In this match, despite Morocco taking a two-goal lead within the first 25 minutes, with nothing to play for beyond pride, they never stopped trying, making life ever more uncomfortable for the vast swathes of vocal Moroccan supporters.

They halved the deficit (albeit with an own goal) and almost got back on level terms, when, from a corner, substitute Atiba Hutchinson headed against the underside of the bar and the ball appeared to bounce over the line. Technology, however, said it did not. Perhaps in four years’ time, when they will play in front of home crowds, these Canadians might finally achieve that elusive first World Cup win.

ESPN:

Hakim Ziyech punished poor Canadian defending to delicately chip home from 35 yards into an unguarded net for their opener, while Youssef En-Nesyri doubled their lead in the 23rd minute with a powerful finish. Canada pulled a goal back just before the break with Nayef Aguerd turning the ball into his own net.Canada were the better of the two teams in the second half, and came close with Atiba Hutchinson’s header striking the bar and then the line — and they leave this World Cup with zero points but plenty of admirers for their performances and ambition.

The Guardian (U.K.):

Les Rouges, who were picked apart by Croatia and eliminated from the competition despite outplaying Belgium in their opener, appeared out of sorts from the start here in a hostile atmosphere with the crowd jeering their every touch.

Morocco World News:

Following the match, thousands of Moroccans took to the streets across the country and the world to celebrate, honking their cars and waving Moroccan flags.

Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui said the fans needed the win, and that the players deserved it, also praising the opposition in the Canadian team.

Hindustan Times:

The match got off to a good start for the Moroccans thanks to Canada’s goalkeeper Milan Borjan who went out on a walkabout and gave a gentle pass to Ziyech, who did not turn down the gift. A well-controlled chip gave Morocco the lead in the fourth minute.

Aljazeera:

The final whistle sent Morocco players storming out on the pitch to celebrate, as their fans in the stands erupted in joy. It is the second time in Morocco’s history that they have progressed past the group stage of the World Cup, the first being in 1986 in Mexico.

Canada, meanwhile, will return home without earning any points, as they had done in their only other World Cup appearance, also in Mexico, 36 years ago.

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