Canada's Jesse Marsch on World Cup exit vs. Morocco: 'We were the better team' - ESPN

Canada coach Jesse Marsch insisted that his side were «the better team» in their 3-0 World Cup defeat to Morocco on Saturday, saying «I'd rather be us than them.»

Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi scored twice and substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a late third in the round-of-16 game in Houston, as Morocco progressed to the quarterfinals.

Canada dominated the first half, with chances for Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi, before Ounahi gave Morocco the lead in the 50th minute.

«What a privilege our fans have had, to root a team on like this,» Marsch said, speaking pitchside afterward. "[A team] that goes after the game, that doesn't play defensive, that shows that they can be better.

«Of course we have to be in these situations more and more, and then we have to find ways to succeed and we have to build from that. I'd rather be us than them. As good as Morocco is, I'd rather be us.

»I'm really proud of our guys, we went after the game, they're hurting right now, but my goodness, right now I couldn't be prouder."

Host nation Canada have delivered their best performance at a World Cup by reaching the round of 16, having gone out at the group stage in their previous appearances in 1986 and 2022.

«It's about in the biggest games, in the biggest moments, how much can we be ourselves, how much can we show belief, how much can we test the opponent,» Marsch said. «We did that, across the pitch.

»We had 11 incredible performances in the first half. We were unlucky not to get the lead, we should have had the lead, and then it's the fine details. [Morocco] have quality, players that play at a big level. But in terms of how we played, what an incredible performance."

Speaking later in his postmatch news conference, Marsch said Morocco «were