Canada's World Cup ends as Morocco roll 3–0 in the last 16

Canada out, Morocco roll into the quarterfinals

Your tournament is over. Canada 0–3 Morocco in the Round of 16 on Saturday, and the co-hosts never really found a foothold (1) (2). Brahim Díaz ran the show with two assists, and Yassine Bounou made the saves that mattered when Canada threatened (2) (7). Azzedine Ounahi, Soufiane Rahimi, and Ismael Saibari all got on the scoresheet, a rehearsed free-kick routine did the real damage (3). Tajon Buchanan was the one bright spark going forward, but it was not enough (1) (2).

Marsch: "I'd rather be us than them"

Jesse Marsch did not go quietly. After the 3–0 loss, the Canada coach said he would still rather be in Canada's position than Morocco's (5). A line that lands strangely coming off a three-goal defeat.

Ouahbi fires back

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi was not having it. "When you lose 3–0, you've got to have some nerve," he said in response to Marsch (6). The laugh was on the other side of the room, Chemsedine Talbi called the win "a pleasure" and said Morocco are already looking ahead to France on July 9 (11) (12).

What the run leaves behind

Canada played 82 crosses in the World Cup up to the round of 32, only DR Congo put more balls into the box (8). It was a direct approach, and it got your team past South Africa on Stephen Eustáquio's stoppage-time volley in the last round. Alistair Johnston and Eustáquio gave everything across the knockout stages. Marsch called this group "Canadian heroes," and the round of 16 was always going to be bonus territory. That does not make Saturday sting any less.