The Maple Leafs have been impressive and easy to watch, creating many chances with pace out wide and presence up front, but their journey is over.
They should have won against a lacklustre Belgian side, having missed a penalty and squandered countless other chances but failing to capitalise, becoming only the second team to depart the competition after hosts Qatar.
They do, however, have a World Cup finals goal to their credit, as they eventually broke their duck on the fifth try, and it was Alphonso Davies. Their star agonisingly missed a penalty against Belgium in their opening game.
John Herdman’s men will not want to end the tournament on zero points like they did in 1986. But there is no doubt that there are excellent foundations in place and a great young group ready to go for the next World Cup, which they will co-host.
The Maple Leafs were unlucky this year to be pitted against the second, third-placed teams from 2018 and potentially Africa’s strongest nation in these finals.
Meanwhile, things are relatively simple for Morocco. They must avoid defeat, and they will progress to the second round. However, a loss complicates things. They would then need Croatia to lose by some margin or for Belgium to lose to progress.
