Morocco hang on in second half to beat Canada and top Group F
17:58 CET: Morocco were good in the first half today and deserved their lead at the break. To be honest, they were quite ineffective in the second half but they defended extremely well to repel Canada and hang on for the win.
The win, coupled with Croatia and Belgium's goalless draw, means that Morocco finish top of the group and they will meet the second-place team from Group E next - to be decided later today.
Canada finish their world cup without a win, or even a point, but they were better than that suggests. They'll be back better for the experience gained in Qatar.
Take a look at the match stats below and read our full match report here.
95': Full-time here and Morocco win. Croatia - Belgium has finished 0-0 which means that Morocco top the group and go through to the last 16. Stay tuned for the fulltime stats.
93': Milan Borjan went out of goal for Canada and up for a corner and he almost got caught in no man's land as Morocco broke back but Davies swept up for him.
91': There will be four minutes added on in this half.
88': It feels like this match is petering out a bit. Morocco seem content to defend their slight lead here and let Canada have the ball.
85': Another change for Morocco. Hakimi depart for Jabrane.
84': Vitoria picks up a yellow for Canada for a nasty elbow in an aerial duel.
LIVE FROM Croatia - Belgium: Still goalless in the other simultaneous Group F match. If Morocco can hold on and keep this lead, they will win the group.
80': Only 10 minutes of regular time to go here. It has to be said that Canada are controlling the match this half. We've barely seen Morocco threaten.
76': Hoilett comes off for Canada and is replaced by David Wotherspoon. For Morocco, Ounahi and Ziyech are both off. Hamdallah and El Yamiq come on for them.
71': From a corner, Hutchinson heads a shot that comes back off the bar and then Johnston follows up and heads just over the bar. So close to a leveller there for Canada! Morocco let off the hook there, they haven't been as good in this half and could get caught napping.
LIVE FROM Croatia - Belgium: Still goalless in the group's other match after 70 minutes there. As it stands, Morocco lead the group with Croatia second.
65': Some changes for Morocco now. Boufal and Sabiri are both taken off. Amallah and Aboukhal are on. For Canada - Osorio comes off for Laryea.
Looking at the momentum of the match in the first hour of play, you can see that Canada have been in this contest and especially present in the second half. They haven't been able to cut through the stubborn Moroccan defence, however.
60': There will be a triple change for Canada. Adekugbe, Kaye and Larin are all off. Hutchinson, Kone and David come on. Herdman ringing the changes there in the hope of getting back into this match and taking something home with them.
57': Davies pokes a cross just wide for Canada. Morocco need to be careful they don't let this lead slip away from them. Finishing top of the group is very advantageous.
56': Hoilett whips a free kick in behind the defensive line but it's too deep for the Canadian attackers to latch onto. They have been better this half so far, Canada. But can they trouble Bono in goal?
51': Some good build-up play from Canada but the Moroccans are very well organised in defence. Too well for the Canadians to break down.
45': Canada get the second half underway. No changes for either side at the break.
First Half
16:55 CET: Take a look at the stats from the first half below. Morocco are in a strong position in this match and look the better team but don't write Canada off just yet, there's still a lot of football yet to be played. Stay tuned for the second half.
Still goalless in Croatia - Belgium.
51': That's halftime here.
48': Ziyech whips in the free kick and it falls to En Nesyri who finishes expertly in of the post but it's ruled out for offside! Hmm, close call there for Canada. Almost a wonderful goal.
47': Sam Adekugbe gets Canada's third yellow card of the match for a sloppy challenge.
45': There will be five added minutes in the first half.
41': GOAL! Canada have got one back! It's an own goal - the first of the tournament, interestingly. Nayef Aguerd deflected a low cross just inside Bono's near post. That's unlucky for Morocco but nice to see Canada back in the match a bit, they didn't deserve to be two goals down.
LIVE FROM Croatia - Belgium: It's still goalless in the group's other match which means that, as it stands, Morocco would win the group.
34': A Little over half an hour played and it's been a tale of two different sides. Both teams have had about 50 per cent of the possession, they have both had periods of sustained pressure. But only Morocco has capitalised, and twice at that.
27': A second yellow card for Canada - Osorio in the book now too.
23': GOAL! Youssef En Nesyri is put through on goal with what looked like a harmless long ball and he still had a lot to do but he fires a low shot past Borjan emphatically. Great work from the centre forward there. Not looking good for Canada now.
20': Fairly evenly split of possession in the first 20 minutes here. The Moroccans have had more chances - four shots to two - and look a bit more comfortable on the ball.
15': First big chance for Canada as Larin fires a low ball across the box but it's just out of reach for the out-stretched Buchanan.
11': It's been mostly Morocco in the opening exchanges here. Obviously, that early goal is the standout moment so far and it sets them up so nicely. Any pressure is released for now and they can enjoy themselves. They are a lovely side to watch when they get going.
7': Yellow card for Canada's Junior Hoilett. That slide tackle from behind probably deserved a yellow, even this early.
4': GOAL! Hakim Ziyech takes advantage of a howler by the Canadian 'keeper Borjan. He came out to play the ball but knocked it with a heavy touch straight to Ziyech who had the simple task of chipping it into an empty net. Great start for Morocco, nightmare for Canada.
1': Morocco kick things off.
Pre Match
15:58 CET: Canada will play in all red, Morocco will play in their change kit of all white.
15:57 CET: Today's referee is Brazilian Raphael Claus at the Al Thumama Stadium. Wow, the Moroccan anthem was spine-tingling. Huge noise and huge support for them. Can they channel that energy into their performance?
15:55 CET: The teams are out for the anthems and their last group game at the World Cup. For Canada, it will be the last game of their Qatar adventure. For Morocco, well, they are in a good position to go through to the round of 16.
Team News
Morocco have restored goalkeeper Bono to their team for their last Group F game against Canada at the Al Thumama Stadium on Thursday after his mysterious absence from their last outing against Belgium.
He had lined up for the match but appeared to be ill during the singing of the anthems and was pulled from the starting XI before the kickoff, replaced by Munir El Kajoui.
The team doctor said afterwards he had been ill but Morocco coach Walid Regragui claimed Bono had suffered an injury in the warm-up.
Morocco have also made another change as Abdelhamid Sabiri, whose free kick set up their shock 2-0 win over Belgium, replaces Selim Amallah in an attacking switch made by the coach.
Already-eliminated Canada, who will co-host the next World Cup, have made four changes to their team after losing 4-1 to Croatia in their previous fixture.
Sam Adekugbe, Junior Hoilett and Jonathan Osorio all start, along with midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye, who gets his first run out at the tournament in Qatar.
Teams:
Canada: Milan Borjan (captain), Alistair Johnston, Samuel Adekugbe, Kamal Miller, Steven Vitoria, Junior Hoilett, Tajon Buchanan, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Cyle Larin, Alphonso Davies, Jonathan Osorio
Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss (captain), Hakim Ziyech, Azzedine Ounahi, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Soufiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri
See how they shape up here.
Introduction
Canada have delighted and inspired their fans in Qatar but they just haven't managed to get the results needed to stay in the tournament, having lost to both Belgium and Croatia in their Group F games. They will be hoping to take something home with them, though, and a victory over Morocco would represent a good consolation prize for John Herdman's sparky side.
Morocco, on the other hand, can progress even if they lose this match but they will be hoping not to take any chances as they could still fall out of the World Cup if Belgium beats Croatia in the group's other game. This Morocco side has high hopes of shaking things up in the latter stages so expect them to come out looking to prove yet another point in this contest.
Follow all the action here with our live updates or using our audio commentary feature which you can find here.
