Morocco are through to the last 16 of the World Cup for the second time after early goals from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri brushed aside whatever suspense remained of their progress. It sealed a nightmarish exit to a tournament for Canada that began with so much promise eight nights ago.
The mighty Atlas Lions entered the group-stage finale full of confidence, having followed a cagey goalless draw with Croatia with an emphatic 2-0 win over second-ranked Belgium and needing only a point to book a place in the knockout stage for the first time in nearly four decades. They finished it, owing to Croatia’s draw with Belgium across town, the improbable winners of a group above of a pair of European giants fresh off runs to the last four in 2018.
