Houston, July 5 -- Canada defender Richie Laryea played down his on-field confrontation with Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi during his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 defeat, saying both players were simply doing everything they could for their countries in a high-stakes knockout contest.

Reflecting on the heated exchange after the match, Laryea said, as per TSN, "He's fighting to defend his country and team, I'm doing the exact same."

The clash between the two defenders was one of several emotional moments in a fiercely contested encounter that ultimately ended Canada's historic World Cup campaign, as Morocco produced a dominant second-half display to claim a 3-0 victory and become the first team to reach the quarter-finals.

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