Why not us? Because the better team usually does win.
While anything can happen at a one-and-done tournament, and upsets are part of the fun of it all, favourites are favourites for a reason.
The Round of 16 is officially underway at the World Cup, and it's high time the tournament separates the chaff from the wheat. That's not to say that certain teams don't belong; some just belong a little bit more.
Canada and Paraguay learned that the hard way during the opening two games of the round. But that's not to say they didn't fight. Rocky didn't beat Apollo Creed, the Jamaican bobsled team crashed, and the Bad News Bears told the Yankees where to shove their trophy. The best stories aren't always written about the victors — they're written about the fighters.
Meanwhile, France and Morocco — semifinalists from the 2022 World Cup — will roll on as they chase glory once more.
Here are the big takeaways from Saturday's action:
THE RESULTS
Round of 16: Morocco 3, Canada 0 | Match Report | Match Stats
Round of 16: France 1, Paraguay 0 | Match Report | Match Stats
THE BIG TAKEAWAYS
Unflattering scoreline doesn't tell story
If you're too busy taking advantage of the hot summer weather, or you're celebrating some other country's Independence Day, you might look at the scoreline in the game between Morocco and Canada and call it a day. That one side never stood a chance.
But for chunks of those 90 minutes, Jesse Marsch's words after the game did ring true: "We were the better team."
At the end of the day, no, Morocco was the better team. The game isn't played for 15 or 20 minutes; it's played over a full 90. But Canada came away with more shots (10-5), more expected goals (0.84-0.82), more touches in the opposition's box (33-9), and significantly more corners (11-1). That expected goals mark is also skewed by the late marker Morocco tucked away when Canada left itself thin at the back while chasing a comeback.
Against the Netherlands in the Round of 32, Morocco dominated possession 70-30 in a game that went to extra time, and many wrote off Canada's midfield as one that wouldn't be able to control the pace of play against the pivot of Ayyoub Bouaddi and Neil El Aynaoui. But Stephen Eustaquio and Niko Sigur didn't write back.
What you won't see just looking at the stat sheet is a Canadian team that fought and took the battle to the Moroccans for most of the first half. Morocco's play through the wings couldn't get going, Richie Laryea looked ready to fight Achraf Hakimi, and had it not been for the yellow cards on referee Michael Oliver's speed dial, the intensity looked to be favouring the co-hosts.
Canada deserved to be in the Round of 16. The side held steady through injuries, an inability to finish great chances, and a lack of true star power — it gutted its way to a best-ever finish at the World Cup. Unfortunately, all those factors proved to be its undoing in a 3-0 loss — a result that doesn't tell the story of Canada at this tournament.
Scared money don't make money
There's nothing wrong with having an identity. Some teams dominate possession with tiki-taka ball movement, others force the opposition into mistakes with a relentless high press, and some sit back and let the game come to them.
Paraguay knows itself. It slayed Germany by slowing down the game immensely, setting up a stingy low block after opening the scoring in the 42nd minute. Though Germany evened it up in the second half, Paraguay held true, forced extra time, and eventually won on penalties.
It played to its style once again against France, allowing the 2018 champs to control 76 per cent of the possession. But eventually, you realize that if you don't control the game, the game controls you.
Paraguay hardly played, completing only 99 passes with a terrible 54 per cent accuracy. And while the French were unable to convert for much of the afternoon despite their embarrassment of riches up top, they eventually won a penalty in the 70th minute, which joint lead-goalscorer Kylian Mbappé slotted home.
Once Paraguay realized it had to open things up and go on the attack, France's offence began to shine. The Rouge et Bleu counter burned the Paraguayans, as Mbappé, Michael Olise, Desire Doué and Ousmane Dembele raced down the wings, and nearly made it an ugly affair had it not been for a couple of impressive saves from keeper Orlando Gill.
Though the final scoreline will tell you it was a tight game, Paraguay's performance wasn't one that sparks fear in the hearts of the opposition, particularly not against France. The only way to play in the knockout stage is to play to win. It didn't look as though Paraguay wanted to win.
GOAL OF THE DAY
Despite playing an even game through the first 45 minutes, the better teams do tend to rear their heads in the second half. Morocco did just that, as it opened the scoring five minutes after the break with a clever set-piece goal. Set up on the right side of the box after a foul, Hakimi played a ball to the edge of the box, where Azzedine Ounahi fired home a first-touch shot through traffic into the bottom corner.
SHOT OF THE DAY
However you feel about Canada's showing at the World Cup, one thing is undeniable: This team had heart. Captured by Sportsnet's one-and-only Faizal Khamisa.
STAT OF THE DAY
We're all here to watch the referee, right? Oliver is well-known for his quick bookings, having handed out 26 yellow cards (second-most) in six Champions League games officiated.
THE STARS OF THE DAY
1. Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco): Ounahi was much more than just a goalscorer for Morocco — though he did nab a brace — as he made an impact across the field for the Atlas Lions. His 66 touches on the day were spread out all over the pitch, collecting the ball on the wing to create overloads with Brahim Diaz and Hakimi, crashing the box as a trailing midfielder, and collecting balls deep in his end to jumpstart attacks.
2. Brahim Diaz (Morocco): With his two assists on the day, the Real Madrid man brought his tournament tally up to four, good for second on the leaderboard behind France's Michael Olise. He also set the record for the most assists by an African player at the World Cup.
3. Dayot Upamecano (France): One of the top defensive performances of the tournament, Upamecano was a brick wall. The Frenchman had four tackles, four clearances, four interceptions and 11 ball recoveries while adding 11 passes into the final third and five accurate long balls. All-arounder.
