Paraguay legend Jose Luis Chilavert has been labelled a “disgrace” by French Football Association (FFF) chief Philippe Diallo for “racist” comments made towards France before their World Cup 2026 last 16 clash.

The former Paraguayan goalkeeper said that his national team would face a “squad from Africa” in the World Cup tie in Philadelphia.

The ​60-year-old has shared ⁠a screenshot on social media of comments ⁠he attributed to former ​French ⁠forward Christophe Dugarry, which stated that Paraguay would get hammered by Les Bleus.

“Christophe, you’re right. In 1998 we faced the French and now PY will face a squad from Africa,” Chilavert said.

The pair faced off against each other at the 1998 World Cup when France played Paraguay in ​the round of 16, with Les Bleus running out 1-0 winners before winning their first world title in the final against Brazil.

And Diallo responded on X, releasing a statement: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by José Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football. “

France ran out 1-0 winners in this year’s last 16 tie after a Kylian Mbappe penalty, which was awarded after a lengthy VAR check following a foul from Diego Gomez on Desire Doue.

There was bad blood between the sides on the pitch, with Paraguay’s rough tactics leading to a number of fouls on French players, which controversially warranted zero yellow cards.

Joe Hart, working as a pundit for BBC Sport, described Paraguay’s tactics for the game as “disgraceful,” while Didier Deschamps could be seen ushering Mbappe away from a confrontation at full-time to avoid any disciplinary risk.

France now face Morocco at the Boston Stadium on 9 July after the Atlas Lions beat co-hosts Canada 3-0.

Reuters contributed to this report.

PHILADELPHIA — Is it harder to score in 100-degree heat or against Paraguay? France had the unenviable task of needing to deal with both but survived to move on with a 1-0 victory, which will see them face Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals in Boston in what will be another hard-fought battle. The two met in 2022 in the semifinals with France advancing 2-0, and this game could be even more competitive.

Facing Morocco, France can expect more of the same as what they got from Paraguay on Saturday, and while they may not have the temperature working against them in Boston, with Morocco’s talent level, the Atlas Lions won’t put 10 behind the ball in a similar way to Paraguay, but they will still be physical and more competent on the ball. France may have won on Saturday, but they needed help from the referee to do so as they ran out of answers, and frustration built. Falling into those same traps against Morocco and it will spell doom with a penalty kick aiding them in this round of 16 affair.

“I had never played a match like this, with so many hits, I mean, cheap shots, shoves in the back. So yes, it was complicated, but we won,” French midfielder Kouadio Kone said following the game.

The type of soccer and mastery of the dark arts is something that France expected, but when the referee let the two teams play, that’s something that they haven’t had happen as much during this World Cup, and it’s where this test went to a new level. Allowing games to trend toward the physical side to avoid stoppages has been evident, and while it has gone too far at times, teams have leaned into it, knowing that they have a long leash. France think they’ll be ready if they see it again.

“I think the referee could have given a few yellow cards; maybe that would have calmed them down a bit. And well, we knew they were going to try to throw us off our game, because the coach had prepared us two or three days beforehand,” Saliba said after the match. “Sometimes it’s clear we can get frustrated too, we’re not going to let them get away with it. But we stayed focused, and like I said, we finished with 11 men, even though we got a few yellow cards. But there you go, sometimes it’s battles, the match demanded that, and there you go, we fought a battle, we won the battle, 1-0, and we are qualified.”

Saliba is right that France won the battle, and we’re also reaching a point in the tournament where rest time for teams is beginning to shrink. Not needing to go to extra time will help, but the heat saw numerous players cramp up during the match, putting them into a scenario they hadn’t faced so far.

After having almost a week between matches during the group stage, that has now been shortened to only five days, which is also one of the reasons why Aurelien Tchouameni wasn’t available after recovering from a knock. Saliba admitted that the heat had an impact but that his side were able to keep their focus, which is why they’re now heading to the quarterfinals.

“It was extremely hot today, so it was easy to tire out quickly. And, you know, when you don’t score early on, the match can feel like a long, drawn-out affair,” Saliba said. But we stayed focused despite the heat.”

Paraguay had a few chances, but Julio Enciso ran out of steam and was subbed in the 61st minute, and Miguel Almiron also had to be substituted out of the game after seemingly picking up a hamstring injury. In Achraf Hakimi, Morocco will have a machine who can go 90, take his own chances and also create for others. As they showed against the Netherlands, Morocco can get physical when they need to, and they also were able to go against the run of play, facing Canada before taking control of that match. 

“They’re a very strong team. They’ve beaten major nations throughout the tournament, and most importantly, they haven’t lost a single game,” Saliba said. “So we know it won’t be easy. They’re a very good side; they defend well and have plenty of individual talent. First, we need to get some rest; we’re pretty wiped out right now, and then prepare well for the match.”

Morocco may be without their striker, Ismael Saibari, for that match as he reportedly suffered a hamstring injury, but this isn’t a team that is dependent on one person. Sufiane Rahimi came right in and scored off the bench for the Atlas Lions as they put three goals past Canada, becoming the first team to knock out a host nation in this tournament. Improving their place in every World Cup since ending their drought in 2018, this is a Morocco team that won’t have fear when facing danger and will go right at them.

Didier Deschamps’ side wobbled in their first true test of the tournament, but they can’t afford more of that. If thy do, their journey could come to an end when a team is able to do more than just punish them physically, but put the ball in the net and threaten their chances of winning it all. 

Sheila Laxon is aiming for a return to the Flemington winner’s circle this Saturday, a feat she hasn’t achieved since the 2024 Melbourne Cup.

The Macedon Lodge trainer, along with partner John Symons, has three runners entered for Finals Day, seeking their first Flemington victory since Knight’s Choice’s significant win in the 2024 Melbourne Cup.

Star Of Macedon, a two-year-old Zoustar colt, is the current favourite for the $175,000 Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m). Mission Of Love will compete in the $150,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m), and Nihancan is slated for the $200,000 Mahogany Series Final (2500m).

These races have been the principal winter targets for the trio, and Laxon is enthusiastic about their chances.

“I think we should have a good day,” Laxon, who also trained Ethereal to win the 2001 Melbourne Cup, commented.

“I think they can all run in the first three on what they’ve done at home, all going well in their races.”

While Mission Of Love is a $21 chance and Nihancan is at $41, Star Of Macedon is the most respected by the odds-makers, positioned as the favourite just ahead of Marwooba.

Star Of Macedon, despite not having won in three outings, has yet to miss a place. This includes an unlucky third over 1420m at Flemington on June 20, a race that saw several of Saturday’s rivals compete.

“He’s showing plenty of ability, it looks like the mile will suit him and there’s not a lot of options as far as stepping them out over ground with two-year-olds at the moment,” Laxon said.

“From what he’s done so far we’re quite confident that the mile suits and I’m sure he’ll be finishing on well.

“He’s just had bad draws and other things making it very difficult for him to actually win in his previous starts.

“We just need to see where he sits and then we can make a decision on what we’re going to do with him from thereon in.”

Looking ahead, Laxon hopes their planning will lead to a campaign targeting major races, including the $3 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

“Everything he’s done for us he shows a lot of tenacity and ability to do whatever we ask him to do,” he noted.

“Hopefully he’s as good as we think he is.”

Star Of Macedon will break from barrier seven in the eight-horse Taj Rossi Final, with Dylan Dunn, who has ridden him in all his starts, retaining the mount.

For those keen to wager, exploring the latest Australian betting sites can provide access to comprehensive racing odds.

Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a return during the third round men’s singles match against Jenson Brooksby of the United States at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

LONDON — Clay, grass, hard court — or even snow.

The surface underfoot doesn’t seem to make any difference for Jannik Sinner.

The top-ranked player — who is currently attempting to defend his title at Wimbledon — was one of Italy’s top junior skiers before he turned his attention full-time to tennis.

READ: Wimbledon: Jannik Sinner survives scare, fall to reach 2nd round

Now Sinner excels on every type of court and his background as a skier might have helped his tennis game.

Just like an elite slalom skier perfectly shifting their weight back and forth from one gate to the next, Sinner hardly ever seems off balance as he rushes back and forth across the baseline — despite his tall and lanky 6-foot-3 (1.91-meter) frame.

Fellow tennis player Casper Ruud agreed that the most impressive thing about Sinner is his movement.

“He’s strong also in balance and flexible to get to certain positions,” Ruud said. “He has good hip movement and knows how to slide (into) both corners.”

Skiing standout Lindsey Vonn also pointed to Sinner’s ability to stay in balance.

“He has an amazing kinesthetic sense, which is an important skill in both sports,” Vonn told The Associated Press. “He is very aware of his body in space and time, so even though he is tall, he moves fluidly and in sync.”

READ: Wimbledon: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic into third round

Sinner won a national skiing championship when he was eight and placed second in Italian nationals at 12.

In a 2009 giant slalom won by Sinner, Giovanni Franzoni — the breakout downhiller of last season — finished 12th, four seconds behind.

Franzoni is now the Kitzbühel downhill champion and the Olympic silver medalist.

“I was really good,” Sinner said after his first Grand Slam title in 2024. “But then I had a couple of so-so seasons when I started competing against older athletes in slalom and giant slalom and when downhill came into the picture I weighed too little to compete.

“So I kept on playing tennis,” Sinner added. “In skiing, if you make a mistake you’re out; it’s a dangerous sport and you need to get up early in the morning and venture outside in frigid temperatures. Tennis is a bit more accessible. In the end I think I made the right choice.”

Vonn, who shares a common sponsor with Sinner, once hit the slopes with the tennis star.

READ: Jannik Sinner struggles with dizziness in French Open loss

“He skis similarly to how he plays tennis; he is fluid, smooth, and makes it look easy,” Vonn said in written comments. “His knees and hips are always parallel and he is always in balance. I really enjoyed skiing with him and I hope to do it again, but after his tennis career!”

Many elite skiers include tennis in their summer training regimen. Vonn’s fellow Olympic champion Bode Miller was a state high school champion tennis player in Maine and his family ran a tennis academy in New Hampshire. He once attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open.

“I love playing tennis. It’s good for my footwork, mental strength and general athleticism,” Vonn said. “I know of quite a few skiers who play tennis as a form of cross training. It’s a way to push myself physically and mentally. When you get physically tired, you have to still be mentally strategic and cool under pressure. I love that about tennis.”

Vonn was the top World Cup downhiller last season at age 41 until her horrific crash at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February left her with a severely fractured left leg.

Ruud, who is Norwegian, was also a skier as a kid, “but I don’t move as good as him,” he said of Sinner.

“I don’t necessarily believe because he did skiing when he was young, that’s why he moves so well,” Ruud said. “I mean, look at (Carlos) Alcaraz: He didn’t ski and he also moves pretty damn well.”

Ultimately, Ruud suggested, it’s just healthy for kids to try as many sports as they can.

“No matter what it is, whether it’s skiing, running, golf. Doing things that keep you active is great. I have never seen Jannik ski other than videos. Would be fun to do a skiing competition one day,” Ruud said with a smile.

Kostyuk’s gymnastics and backflips

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk does a backflip as she celebrates beating Russia’s Mirra Andreeva during the 2026 WTA Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP)

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When Marta Kostyuk won the Madrid Open in May, she performed her customary title celebration: a backflip.

It was a nod to the Ukrainian player’s background in gymnastics, a sport she practiced until she was 11.

While Kostyuk appreciated the physical part of gymnastics, it was a stressful sport for her outside the gym.

READ: Marta Kostyuk gets emotional win after missile attack at home in Ukraine

“I had to be super skinny. I had to control what I eat. I would weigh myself 20-30 times a day from 8 to 10 years old,” Kostyuk said. “That had some consequences on me obviously that I had to work through.”

Kostyuk also tore an abductor muscle while performing gymnastics as a kid, which she called “a really big injury.

“That had also consequences in my career,” she said. “I fixed them but it took a while. I don’t know about Jannik and if he ever got any bad injuries but I’ve been there so there’s always two sides. But for sure it helped my tennis and I’m happy that I got out on the other side better.”

Cobolli’s football skills

French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli was a talented soccer player and a member of Roma’s youth club until he decided to focus fully on tennis.

“I have a good physical skill and a lot of stamina, and maybe football helped me (in that department),” Cobolli said.

Many of the soccer players he used to train with as a kid are professionals now and remain good friends, like Watford midfielder Edoardo Bove, Arsenal fullback Riccardo Calafiori, Atalanta winger Nicola Zalewski and Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri.

Djokovic was also a skier

Similarly to Sinner, Novak Djokovic grew up on a ski hill in Serbia and his father was a ski racer and instructor.

Along with Djokovic, Sinner is one of the few players who slides into shots on grass.

“It was always very natural,” Sinner said of his sliding abilities. “Maybe the skiing was a big part of (it) with the balance.”

🇫🇷⚽️ Les Bleus secured their place in the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals after a very tense match against #Paraguay 🇵🇾, marked by numerous fouls that went unpunished. Despite the intensity, the #French players reacted with composure after the final whistle, focusing on qualification rather than the controversy.

World Cup favourites France survived a major scare to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Kylian Mbappe’s second-half penalty securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a stubborn Paraguay side in Philadelphia.

Despite dominating possession throughout the contest, Didier Deschamps’ men struggled to break down a disciplined Paraguay defence that frustrated the two-time world champions for long periods in sweltering conditions.

The last-16 encounter was played in extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 38°C, but France began brightly and controlled much of the ball. However, Paraguay, managed by Gustavo Alfaro, remained organised and denied Les Bleus any clear opportunities.

Frustration started to show in the first half, with Mbappe reacting angrily after a challenge from Andres Cubas as both teams went into the break without registering a single shot on target.

France emerged with greater intent after the restart and finally tested goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the 54th minute when Manu Kone’s long-range effort forced a save.

The breakthrough eventually arrived after a tactical change by Deschamps. Substitute Desire Doue, introduced on the left flank, made an immediate impact by driving into the penalty area and beating his marker before Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez brought him down.

Following a VAR review, referee Ilgiz Tantashev awarded the penalty, and Mbappe calmly sent Gill the wrong way to score the decisive goal and book France’s place in the last eight.

The strike also saw the France captain draw level with Argentina legend Lionel Messi on seven goals in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.

Paraguay, who had stunned Germany on penalties in the previous round, once again showed remarkable defensive resilience and physicality, making life difficult for one of the tournament favourites.

The match became only the third World Cup knockout fixture since 1966 to reach half-time without either side managing a shot on target, underlining the South Americans’ defensive discipline.

However, as they have done throughout the tournament, France found a way through when it mattered most. Mbappe’s penalty continued his remarkable World Cup record, taking his tally to 19 goals in just 20 appearances at the competition.

For Deschamps, the victory carried echoes of France’s previous World Cup meeting with Paraguay in 1998, when Laurent Blanc’s golden goal sent the hosts into the quarter-finals before they eventually lifted their first world title.

Twenty-eight years later, Deschamps, now leading from the dugout rather than midfield, will hope this narrow victory proves to be another step towards World Cup glory.

France’s march towards a third consecutive FIFA World Cup final continued, but only after Didier Deschamps’ side overcame one of their sternest examinations of the tournament.

A solitary Kylian Mbappe penalty proved enough to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Philadelphia, sending Les Bleus into the quarter-finals where Morocco awaits. More significantly, Mbappe’s strike took him level with Lionel Messi on seven goals in the Golden Boot race, setting up what could become one of the defining individual battles of World Cup 2026.

Despite dominating possession throughout, France were forced to dig deep against a Paraguay side that combined defensive discipline with relentless physicality to frustrate one of the tournament favourites.

Paraguay’s low block tested France like never before

No team has managed to slow France’s attacking rhythm quite like Paraguay.

Gustavo Alfaro’s side spent much of the evening camped inside their own half, defending in a compact 5-4-1 shape that denied space between the lines and crowded every French attacker whenever they ventured into dangerous areas.

France monopolised possession but struggled to translate territorial dominance into clear-cut opportunities. Their first attempt arrived only after 22 minutes, their longest wait for a shot in a World Cup knockout match since detailed records began in 1966.

As central passing lanes disappeared, France increasingly resorted to long-range efforts from Adrien Rabiot, Manu Kone and eventually Mbappe himself, highlighting just how effectively Paraguay had closed off the penalty area.

For over an hour, the South Americans executed their defensive blueprint almost perfectly.

Physical battle boiled over

Paraguay’s resistance was built on far more than organisation. Every duel became a battle.

Mbappe found himself repeatedly targeted by Paraguay’s defenders, beginning with Andres Cubas’ robust challenge before Matias Galarza appeared to deliberately strike the French captain off the ball in one of the game’s more controversial moments.

The confrontations continued throughout the evening as Paraguay attempted to unsettle France emotionally as much as tactically.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was Paraguay avoiding disciplinary action for much of the contest despite several cynical challenges, with their first yellow card arriving only after the final whistle.

France, however, never allowed their frustrations to affect their composure.

VAR finally breaks the deadlock

The breakthrough arrived through persistence. Desire Doue, who added fresh energy after entering the contest, drove into the penalty area before being brought down by Diego Gomez.

Initially waved away, the incident was reviewed by VAR, prompting referee Ilgiz Tantashev to overturn his decision and award France a penalty.

There was little debate over the final verdict. Gomez clearly made contact with Doue inside the area, and after reviewing the incident on the monitor, the official pointed to the spot.

Paraguay attempted every trick possible to delay proceedings, even scuffing up the penalty spot before Mbappe stepped forward. None of it mattered.

Mbappe joins Messi in Golden Boot race

Mbappe remained ice cool. Ignoring the gamesmanship and pressure, the France captain calmly converted from 12 yards to score his seventh goal of the tournament, drawing level with Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot standings.

Beyond the goal itself, it represented another statement from arguably the tournament’s most influential forward.

Throughout the evening Mbappe had been repeatedly fouled, provoked and crowded out by multiple defenders, yet when the decisive moment arrived, he delivered.

France showed patience instead of panic  Perhaps the most impressive aspect of France’s victory was not the quality of football but the maturity they displayed.

Many teams would have become increasingly desperate after failing to break down Paraguay’s stubborn defence for over an hour. France never did.

Deschamps’ players continued circulating possession, trusted their structure and resisted the temptation to lose discipline despite Paraguay’s repeated attempts to provoke them. That emotional control eventually proved just as important as their technical superiority.

Paraguay leave with heads held high

The scoreline hardly reflected Paraguay’s effort. They defended heroically, disrupted France’s attacking patterns and remained within touching distance until the penalty decision.

Goalkeeper Orlando Gill produced several outstanding saves, including a spectacular late double stop to deny Mbappe a second goal, while Paraguay’s back line consistently threw bodies in front of shots and crosses. Ultimately, however, their inability to offer sustained attacking threat meant they had little margin for error. One lapse inside the penalty area proved decisive.

Morocco next as France’s biggest challenge awaits

France’s reward is arguably its toughest assignment yet. Morocco now stands between Les Bleus and the semi-finals after another impressive knockout performance from the African giants.

Unlike Paraguay, Morocco possesses significantly greater attacking quality and will ask far more questions of France defensively. However, Deschamps will also be encouraged by what his team demonstrated here.

Great World Cup winners are not defined solely by emphatic victories—they are often judged by how they survive difficult nights. Against a determined Paraguay side, France found a way.

And with Mbappe matching Messi at the summit of the scoring charts, Les Bleus remain firmly on course for another deep World Cup run.

Racing NSW stewards have levied a $4000 fine on leading Sydney jockey Tommy Berry. Berry pleaded guilty to providing misleading evidence during a stewards’ inquiry concerning his interactions with disqualified trainer John O’Shea.

Last month, Berry faced questioning from stewards after suggesting in a post-race interview that he had communicated with O’Shea before Hovland’s win at Warwick Farm on June 3. The Rules of Racing explicitly forbid licensed individuals from engaging with disqualified persons on racing-related matters.

On June 24, Racing NSW stewards formally charged Berry with supplying misleading evidence, following their initial review of the jockey’s post-race interview. Berry’s legal representative, Wayne Pasterfield, informed stewards that the jockey’s calls to O’Shea were made ‘as a welfare check just the same as when people were checking in on Tommy during his disqualification a few years ago’.

Pasterfield argued that Berry’s responses regarding his conversation with O’Shea on June 3 were ‘misleading because he thought the questions were about whether he had spoken to him about racing matters.’ He also stated that Berry is a ‘breath of fresh air to racing, a person who everyone loves, an ornament to the sport’.

‘He gives his time to sick kids and countless hours of voluntary assistance at fund-raising events,’ Pasterfield told the stewards. Pasterfield successfully argued that a fine was an appropriate penalty ‘given that it is a charge of misleading rather than false evidence, given his plea of guilty at the first opportunity, given his honesty with stewards almost immediately after giving misleading evidence.’

Stewards initially assessed the penalty at $6000, but considering Berry’s guilty plea and other relevant factors, the fine was reduced to $4000.

The inquiry also considered whether ‘O’Shea had breached the prohibitions of his disqualification and, additionally, whether Berry had contacted a disqualified person for the purpose of discussing matters relating to thoroughbred racing’. While evidence confirmed communication between the jockey and trainer on instances where Berry rode horses previously trained by O’Shea, stewards ‘could not be satisfied there was sufficient evidence to establish there was a breach to the requisite standard, accordingly, no further action was taken in respect of those matters’.

Berry is currently enjoying a holiday with his wife, Sharnee, and their children, capping off a successful 2026 season where he secured 68 wins, placing him third behind James McDonald (88 wins) in the Sydney jockeys’ premiership.

John O’Shea received a four-month disqualification for conduct-related charges following the scratching of Bev’s Nine at Rosehill Gardens earlier this year. He admitted to the charges concerning his interactions with Racing NSW vets, which resulted in the ban that is scheduled to end this month.

Looking to place a wager on the next big race? Compare the latest racing betting markets from leading providers.

Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi is thrown in the air by his teammates after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Canada in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

HOUSTON — Morocco is heading back to the World Cup quarterfinals and coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes his team has established itself among football’s elite.

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the Round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.

“We are no longer a surprise,” Ouahbi said through an interpreter. “Now when people talk about Morocco we’re a major contender and it’s a great source of pride. I think it’s only the beginning and I hope we continue to have runs like this.”

READ: World Cup: Saibari, Morocco sends Netherlands to its earliest exit

And despite already making history in this World Cup, Morocco has much higher goals.

“We want to keep going,” Ouahbi said. “We don’t want to stop.”

It’s Morocco’s second straight appearance in the final eight after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.

“We are so proud to represent Africa because it’s a continent with a lot of talent and Africa deserves to be in the best level in football,” goalkeeper Yassine Bounou said.

Neither team was able to break through until Ounahi took a free kick from Achraf Hakimi and made a right-footed shot through traffic from outside the box to the bottom right corner to put Morocco on top 1-0 in the 50th minute.

Ounahi made it 2-0 on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box off a pass from Brahim Díaz in the 82nd minute.

Soufiane Rahimi added a goal in the final minute of stoppage time.

READ: World Cup Round of 32: Brazil-Japan, Netherlands-Morocco

Morocco will meet France, which beat Paraguay later Saturday, on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The loss ends a historic run for World Cup co-host Canada, which won its first-ever knockout round game, beating South Africa 1-0 to reach Saturday’s match. The country was playing in the World Cup for just the third time and the run enchanted a nation that is normally far more interested in hockey than the pitch.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch shared his postgame message to the team.

“I told them that I was proud of them and I challenged them to understand that we can play like this all the time against the best teams in the world,” he said. “We can be better on the day. And then the challenge is, can we hold that standard for 90 minutes?”

Morocco, No. 7 in the FIFA rankings entering the tournament, dispatched the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to reach the Round of 16 and send the country to its earliest World Cup exit.

READ: World Cup: Ismael Saibari lifts Morocco over Scotland

Marsch lauded how his team performed against a squad of Morocco’s caliber and how Canada controlled the match for much of the day.

“The way we pushed, the way we were in the match, the quality we showed, the overall impact in the match, we were better,” he said. “We were better than the No. 7 team in the world today.”

Ouahbi had a strong response when told of those comments.

“In terms of intensity they were good,” he said. “They were good for 98 minutes. Were they better? It’s hard to say. It takes some nerve to say that when you lose 3-nil.”

Canada had a couple of chances to score late. Jonathan David had a free kick from outside the box in the 78th minute, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.

Just after that, Tajon Buchanan’s shot from about 30 yards was stopped with a diving save from Bounou. Bounou, who was born in Canada to Moroccan parents, had three saves.

READ: World Cup: Brazil rallies for 1-1 draw vs Morocco in its opener

The victory set off a huge celebration for Morocco’s fans back home.

Within minutes, thousands poured into the streets of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city. Horns echoed as supporters climbed onto car roofs, waving flags and chanting.

Traffic ground to a halt along the Corniche Boulevard, one of the city’s main avenues, where ecstatic Atlas Lions supporters danced, set off fireworks and waved flares. Other major boulevards across Casablanca were also jammed with jubilant fans.

Canada reached the Round of 16 despite missing star Alphonso Davies for the majority of the tournament because of a hamstring injury. The Bayern Munich player logged only 15 minutes as a substitute in the victory over South Africa but wasn’t available Saturday.

“His hamstring didn’t feel right,” Marsch said. “We were hoping that by the time he woke up this morning that he would feel better, but he didn’t.”

This game was a rematch from the last World Cup when Morocco beat Canada 2-1 in the group stage. Morocco went on to finish fourth.

It was an extremely physical match with eight yellow cards being issued. Both teams received four.

Hakimi and Canada’s Richie Laryea received yellow cards in the 40th minute. Hakimi shoved Laryea to the ground and then Laryea pushed him and a minor scuffle ensued.

Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari left with an injury in the 22nd minute.