Saibari's penalty sends Morocco into last 16, Canada next
Canada awaits on Saturday, the last 16 is here
Your team face Canada in the World Cup round of 16 on Saturday, 4 July (1) (2). One match. The quarterfinal is within reach. Canada have Stephen Eustáquio and Alphonso Davies pulling the strings (3) (4). Morocco have momentum from the most dramatic night of this tournament.
The Netherlands shootout still hasn't sunk in
Morocco 1–1 Netherlands, then 3–2 on penalties (3) (5). It was chaos. It was beautiful. Ismael Saibari scored his penalty and sent the Dutch home. The guy has scored in every single group stage match and now buried the decisive spot-kick in the round of 32. Dutch manager Ronald Koeman set up with five defenders and faced a storm afterwards. He said he would do the same again, no regrets, but admitted he will reflect on his future (5). The Dutch goalkeeper put a wayward own goal past himself during penalties. Absolute scenes.
Diop's header, the moment that made it possible
Issa Diop rose in stoppage time against the Netherlands and headed the equalizer that forced extra time (5). Without that goal, there is no shootout. Diop said he had dreamed of scoring an important goal. "Ik had ervan gedroomd dat hij een belangrijk doelpunt zou maken" (5). The defender delivered when it mattered most.
What Canada bring
Canada reached this round through a solid group campaign. Eustáquio controls the midfield, Davies is the star power on the flank (3) (4). Morocco's backline will need the same steel they showed after Diop's goal. Saibari's form is your biggest weapon.
Sources
- 1. fussballnationalmannschaft.net — Fußball WM heute Achtelfinale: Wann spielt Kanada gegen Marokko? TV-Übertragung
- 2. fussballnationalmannschaft.net — Fußball heute WM – Wer spielt morgen am Samstag 4.7. bei der WM 2026? Sechzehntelfinale & erste Achtelfinale
- 3. soccernews.com — Prediction: Canada vs Morocco
- 4. 101greatgoals.com — Canada v Morocco: Predicted line-ups, stats and preview for World Cup last-16 clash
- 5. vi.nl — Diop neemt met goal tegen Oranje alle twijfels weg