\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 CanMNT<\/h2>\n\nThe GIST: <\/strong>Before the fun kicks off in Houston, Texas, let\u2019s revisit Canada\u2019s Round of 32 win against South Africa.<\/p>\n\ud83e\udd72 Vice-captain Stephen Eust\u00e1quio (pronounced oh-STACK-ee-oh) etches his name in Canada soccer history: <\/strong>Head coach Jesse Marsch promised aggressive soccer from the start on Sunday, and CanMNT kind of <\/em>delivered. Despite some stellar chances<\/a>, they failed to finish in the first half. The second-half hydration break, however, was yet again<\/a> a major turning point for the Canadians.<\/p>\n\n- In the 75th minute, superstar Alphonso Davies took the field for the first time this tourney<\/a>, with the captain immediately making an impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Most importantly, the magnetic Davies drew attention to the edges of the field during stoppage time, leaving just enough space for Eust\u00e1quio to score the most important goal<\/a> in Canada men\u2019s soccer history in the 92nd minute.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc40 Was this CanMNT\u2019s best showing at this WC? <\/strong>Absolutely not. The attack was far from clinical, and the lads squandered multiple opportunities to put the game away. That said, a few players stood out and will be counted on for a repeat performance against a far stronger opponent today.<\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd34 Stephen Eust\u00e1quio | Midfielder: <\/strong>Eust\u00e1quio is obviously clutch in major moments, but Canada\u2019s general shines brightest when he\u2019s setting up major plays in the attacking third.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26aa Richie Laryea | Left back: <\/strong>Don\u2019t let his defensive position fool you \u2014 Laryea\u2019s very strong offensively<\/em> and can be counted on for precision passes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26ab Alphonso Davies | Defender: <\/strong>Will the recovering (hamstring) Davies see more than 15 minutes of this WC? Given the captain\u2019s contribution on Monday, we hope so. After all, it\u2019s not about how long you play \u2014 it\u2019s what you do <\/em>in those minutes that matters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6 Morocco <\/h2>\n![\"It\u2019s](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/aef478033b31e18c56a12a490d325b0c7f79a0d5-5393x3812.jpg?rect=0,1,5393,3811&w=600&h=424&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Warning: This section contains mention of assault.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe GIST: <\/strong>Morocco, a 2022 WC semifinalist, earned their spot in the Round of 16 in the most dramatic fashion soccer has to offer: a penalty shootout<\/a>. Here\u2019s how it went down on Monday and what Canada can learn from The Atlas Lions\u2019 dub.<\/p>\n\u2728 Morocco victorious in chaotic match over perennial giant Netherlands: <\/strong>Morocco controlled the tempo of the physical (and bloody<\/a>) game from the very start, relentlessly creating goal-scoring opportunities, but the Dutch counterattack struck gold first, taking a 1\u20130 lead in the 72nd minute.<\/p>\n\n- However, Morocco did not bow down: Center back Issa Diop equalized in the 91st, with the 1\u20131 score remaining through extra time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Both teams traded missed shots and made jaw-dropping saves through the first five penalties before Morocco\u2019s Ismael Saibari buried the winner, knocking the Netherlands out via penalties for the third straight WC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc40 PK\u2019s aside, <\/strong>here are a few players that could cause trouble for Canada:<\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd34 Yassine Bounou | Goalkeeper:<\/strong> Bounou was the unsung hero of Monday\u2019s win, making the game-changing penalty save that set up Saibari to win the match.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The GIST: <\/strong>Before the fun kicks off in Houston, Texas, let\u2019s revisit Canada\u2019s Round of 32 win against South Africa.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd72 Vice-captain Stephen Eust\u00e1quio (pronounced oh-STACK-ee-oh) etches his name in Canada soccer history: <\/strong>Head coach Jesse Marsch promised aggressive soccer from the start on Sunday, and CanMNT kind of <\/em>delivered. Despite some stellar chances<\/a>, they failed to finish in the first half. The second-half hydration break, however, was yet again<\/a> a major turning point for the Canadians.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 Was this CanMNT\u2019s best showing at this WC? <\/strong>Absolutely not. The attack was far from clinical, and the lads squandered multiple opportunities to put the game away. That said, a few players stood out and will be counted on for a repeat performance against a far stronger opponent today.<\/p>\n Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The GIST: <\/strong>Morocco, a 2022 WC semifinalist, earned their spot in the Round of 16 in the most dramatic fashion soccer has to offer: a penalty shootout<\/a>. Here\u2019s how it went down on Monday and what Canada can learn from The Atlas Lions\u2019 dub.<\/p>\n \u2728 Morocco victorious in chaotic match over perennial giant Netherlands: <\/strong>Morocco controlled the tempo of the physical (and bloody<\/a>) game from the very start, relentlessly creating goal-scoring opportunities, but the Dutch counterattack struck gold first, taking a 1\u20130 lead in the 72nd minute.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 PK\u2019s aside, <\/strong>here are a few players that could cause trouble for Canada:<\/p>\n\n
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\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6 Morocco <\/h2>\n
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