Soccer’s greatest international occasion returns this week because the 2022 FIFA World Cup will get underway in Qatar.
Forward of the match we’ve previewed every of the competing sides, listed below are the nations in Group F – Belgium, Croatia, Canada and Morocco.
Belgium
- FIFA Rating: 2
- Earlier finest: Third (2018)
- Supervisor: Roberto Martinez
- Key participant: Kevin De Bruyne
- Odds to be topped champions: 16/1
Belgium are ranked because the second finest aspect on this planet in keeping with FIFA, although there isn’t any doubt a way that the nation’s Golden Technology has handed with out success.
Defensive stalwarts Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are both gone or ageing, whereas Eden Hazard’s decline in fortunes at Actual Madrid has been a tragic story. Hazard gained the Silver Ball in Russia 4 years in the past, however has scored simply 4 league targets since swapping Chelsea for Spain in 2019.
This season he has totalled simply 98 minutes throughout three league appearances and health issues over Romelu Lukaku imply there’s an over-reliance on Kevin De Bruyne heading into the match. De Bruyne has a real argument as Europe’s most influential footballer proper now and been concerned in a objective each 94.5 minutes for Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League this season.
Prepared for my third World Cup!
@BelRedDevils pic.twitter.com/WKvJzYw19c
— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) November 10, 2022
Thibaut Courtois is a formidable presence behind a defence that comprises a mixture of ageing names and unproven expertise, whereas Jeremy Doku, Amadou Onana and Charles De Ketelaere present freshness to the squad. A lot will depend upon Lukaku nonetheless, who has scored a staggering 68 targets in 102 worldwide appearances. He has featured simply as soon as since August for Inter Milan because of health issues.
Croatia
- FIFA Rating: 12
- Earlier finest: Runners-up (2018)
- Supervisor: Zlatko Dalic
- Key participant: Luka Modric
- Odds to be topped champions: 50/1
Croatia reached the ultimate in Russia 4 years in the past and will probably be quietly assured of one other profitable match regardless of mass modifications from that ageing squad.
Zlatko Dalic’s aspect impressed to high their Nations League group, profitable 5 and drawing considered one of their fixtures in a bunch that contained world champions France, Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark and Austria.
Midfield is the power of this aspect with the Croatians nonetheless orchestrated by the evergreen Luka Modric. Winner of the Golden Ball on the earlier World Cup, he stays a metronomic determine for membership and nation, having starred as Actual Madrid gained the Champions League final season.
37-year-old Luka Modrić is heading to his fourth World Cup after being confirmed within the Croatia squad
— B/R Soccer (@brfootball) November 9, 2022
Alongside Modric are Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, two footballers of utmost significance however who not often declare the headlines. Dominik Livaković has changed Danijel Subašić as primary, whereas Josip Sutalo, Josko Gvardiol and Borna Sosa have refreshed the backline.
Will probably be fascinating to see how Gvardiol handles soccer’s greatest stage, with the RB Leipzig centre-back among the many most in-demand younger abilities in European soccer.
Canada
- FIFA Rating: 41
- Earlier finest: Group Stage (1986)
- Supervisor: John Herdman
- Key participant: Alphonso Davies
- Odds to be topped champions: 200/1
Canada have reached the World Cup for simply the second time, ending a 36-year wait after topping CONCACAF qualifying forward of Mexico and the US.
John Herdman’s aspect have been handed a troublesome draw however will hope to spring a shock in Qatar. Their staff is one blessed with tempo, with Alphonso Davies the star title amongst their ranks. Davies has emerged as one of the vital thrilling full-backs in world soccer at Bayern Munich, the place he has gained 4 Bundesliga titles and the Champions League amongst his honours.
A child born in a refugee camp wasn’t alleged to make it! However right here we’re GOING TO THE WORLD CUP. Don’t let nobody inform you that your goals are unrealistic. KEEP DREAMING, KEEP ACHIEVING! pic.twitter.com/GT4hjz4ebO
— Alphonso Davies (@AlphonsoDavies) November 13, 2022
The 22-year-old’s electrical pace has earned him the nickname ‘Highway Runner’, although his tempo is utilised in a extra superior place on the left for Canada. Elsewhere, Stephen Eustáquio has impressed for a Porto staff who topped their Champions League group and supplies class and composure on the base of the midfield. Membership Brugge’s Cyle Larin and Lille’s Jonathan David additionally shone in qualification, ending because the part’s high two scorers with 22 targets mixed.
David has 9 targets in 15 league appearances for Lille this season and has been linked with the Premier League in current home windows.
Morocco
- FIFA Rating: 22
- Earlier finest: Spherical of 16 (1986)
- Supervisor: Walid Regragui
- Key participant: Achraf Hakimi
- Odds to be topped champions: 200/1
Morocco have reached a second successive World Cup, although the present aspect seems to be loads totally different to the staff who competed in 2018.
The likes of Medhi Benatia and Mbark Boussoufa have moved on, with a youthful technology – a few of which have been included in Russia – having developed into the important thing figures within the aspect. Achraf Hakimi is the main mild and top-of-the-line full-backs in world soccer, whereas the returns of Noussair Mazraoui and Hakim Ziyech after a fall-out with earlier supervisor Vahid Halilhodzic are a welcome injection of top-level expertise.
@AchrafHakimi has been known as up by the coach of Morocco to take part within the FIFA World Cup!
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 10, 2022
In that trio and Sevilla pair Yassine Bounou and Youssef En-Nesyri, there’s a core of Champions League regulars who will probably be eyeing an upset and group stage progress. Morocco reached the final eight on the AFCON earlier this 12 months and certified for the World Cup in snug style, topping their group with six straight wins earlier than defeating DR Congo 5-2 on mixture in a playoff.
The restricted preparation time of latest coach Walid Regragui is a priority, however the nation’s first Moroccan coach since 2016 has success on his résumé together with a league title in Qatar and the African Champions League.
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The put up World Cup – Group F Preview first appeared on The Soccer Devoted. Supply – thefootballfaithful.com