+ Canada–Morocco, Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas.
TV4/P4 Radio Sport.
+ The captain's tears
After outperforming expectations at the World Cup, Canada's men's national team is now facing its biggest match in decades. The teams also met in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, when Morocco won 2-1.
Four years later, the tone is different. Even though they know it will be tough, Morocco has already faced two giants - a draw against Brazil in the group stage and a victory over the Netherlands in the round of 16 on penalties.
Canada's captain Stephen Eustáquio won the round of 16 against South Africa. After the match, he broke down in a television interview. Eustáquio lost his mother to cancer in 2023 and his father to a heart attack in 2024. He dedicated the victory to his parents.
I have fought so hard and this is for them, he said.
+ Morocco towards new successes
In Morocco, the mood is upbeat after the shock victory over the Netherlands on penalties. The team surprised everyone and finished fourth at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. This time they are aiming even higher.
"Every World Cup is different. At every World Cup you want to show that you are capable of doing something new and better. So I think we are on the right track as an association and as a national team," said full-back star Noussair Mazraoui after the victory.
+ France–Paraguay Saturday at 11:00 p.m.
Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
SVT/P4 Radio Sport.
+ Bad mood in France?
France is perhaps the team that has impressed the most so far in the tournament. After a weak first half against Senegal in the opening match, national team captain Didier Deschamps has tweaked his starting eleven and it has paid off. But it doesn't seem to be all plain sailing.
French newspaper L'Équipe reports some frustration among Manchester City star Ryan Cherki due to a lack of playing time, and the attacking star was visibly angry after the victory against Sweden and refused to shake hands with national team captain Deschamps.
Before the match against Sweden, superstar Ousmane Dembélé was sour at a press conference with journalists and answered questions about his performance against Norway, where he scored three goals, with irony.
+ Biggest scare yet
The match could have been a classic, but Germany was eliminated. Paraguay put up a huge fight and won on penalties. Is the saga over now?
According to the betting market, Paraguay's victory over Germany was the biggest shock so far in the World Cup last 16, and ahead of this match, the odds look even worse. A Paraguayan victory pays 17 times the money. A French victory is at 1.17. Paraguay are optimistic, however.
"We put our souls, our hearts and our lives into this," said goalkeeper and penalty hero Orlando Gill after the victory against Germany.
