Canada v Morocco LIVE: Alphonso Davies fails to start as World Cup co-hosts face African champions in last-16 | OneFootball

Canada’s ailsAlphonso Davies came off the bench vs South Africa and won’t start against Morocco (Getty)

Canada take on Morocco in the first match of the last-16 as they look to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the very first time.

Jesse Marsch and his ‘Canadian heroes’ have already made history by reaching the last-16 thanks to a 1-0 victory over South Africa last Sunday. Stephen Eustaquio scored the decisive goal in the 92nd minute to send Canada through and there are positive signs that they can impress in Houston today.

But, Morocco are full of confidence having come through a group that included Brazil before defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout during the round of 32. That was a dramatic turnaround as well after Issa Diop cancelled out Cody Gakpo’s strike to send the game to extra time.

The Atlas Lions held their nerve in the shootout to advance but how will they fare against the co-hosts? Well, their already-strong chances might have been boosted by the absence of captain Alphonso Davies in Canada’s starting line-up.