On the penultimate day of FIFA World Cup group matches, everything is at stake in Group F.
Croatia face an underperforming Belgium outfit meanwhile Canada take on Morocco. Three of the four teams are in with a chance of advancing to the Round of 16, with Canada currently the only team certain for elimination from the group stage.
2018 runners-up Croatia are top of Group F with 4 points, level with Morocco. Belgium are 1 point shy of the top two spots and they require victory in order to qualify for the knockouts. Closing out their group fulfilments, Croatia and Belgium are due for a first meeting at the World Cup.
The Belgian Red Devils won their World Cup opener against Canada, 1-0, before suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco last time out. Ranked no.2 in the FIFA world rankings, Belgium have it all to do if they are to reach the knockouts at a third successive World Cup event.
After missing both the 2006 and 2010 editions, Belgium marked their return to the world stage by reaching the quarter-finals in 2014 and then followed that up by claiming the bronze medal four years ago.
Now, anything less than a win over Croatia would see the Red Devils exit from the groups for the first time since 1998. A premature exit in Qatar may leave head coach Roberto Martínez at risk of losing his job. The 49-year-old Spaniard was appointed Belgium boss in August 2016.
Martínez has shown a stubborn reluctance to rotate his squad, despite the core of his team well beyond its prime.
Kevin De Bruyne on whether Belgium can win the World Cup:
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) November 26, 2022
“No chance, we’re too old.”
[via The Guardian] pic.twitter.com/4KwX8G21Fk
Several senior players, namely Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, and Toby Alderweireld, are no longer cut out for top-level football and the ageing trio must now make way for a new-look spine in the Belgium national setup.
Witsel, 33, has started all but one of his nation’s last 17 competitive matches, while Alderweireld was in the line-up in 14 of those, and Vertonghen 13. Alderweireld and Witsel were both named in the starting XI for each of Belgium’s last seven defeats since July 2021.
It has been disappointing to see a lack of minutes for the younger group of Belgian players, such as Wout Faes (Leicester City) who has earned a solitary international cap prior to Qatar 2022.
In both of Belgium’s first two games, Martínez selected a starting XI with an average age of 30 years & 6 months; only Costa Rica have named an older line-up at Qatar 2022 (30 years & 11 months).
Martínez is far too reluctant to drop Vertonghen and Alderweireld, who aren’t far off a combined age of 70. The pair of defenders (as well as Witsel) have started together in 12 of Belgium’s last 17 competitive games.
7 – Belgium have lost seven of their last 19 matches in all competitions (W9 D3), as many defeats as they’d suffered across their previous 74 games combined (W57 D10). Alarming. pic.twitter.com/4c3WzLI6DJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 27, 2022
Croatia’s lack of a focal point is rather alarming and head coach Zlatko Dalić urgently needs to identify his primary centre-forward. Andrej Kramarić netted twice against Canada but the attacker has been found wanting with his attacking output overall.
In the corresponding Group F encounter, Morocco can seal progression with victory over Canada and they could even go through as group winners depending on the result between Croatia and Belgium.
For the Moroccans, this is a sixth appearance at the World Cup finals and it could be just the second time they progress beyond the groups.
In 1986, the Atlas Lions remarkably avoided defeat in their group which also housed England, Poland, and Portugal. The North Africans topped the group but crashed out to eventual finalists West Germany in the Round of 16.
Almost four decades later, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui and his players are striving to rewrite the history books. So far, one African nation (Senegal) has progressed to the Round of 16.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Canada are winless and point-less following losses to Belgium and Croatia. Alphonso Davies netted in the opening two minutes against Croatia, for what was the Canadians’ first ever goal at the World Cup.
Following their debut at the tournament in 1986, this is only the second time the Maple Leafs have appeared at the World Cup finals. 36 years ago they exited the competition with three defeats and without scoring a goal across their three group games.
Both matches kick-off simultaneously, starting at 18H00 local time (15H00 GMT).
The bookies suggest that Belgium (2.60) may edge Croatia (2.70) in this crucial World Cup group game, with 3.40 odds for a draw. (Bet365)
The other match might be more straightforward, with Morocco 1.80 favourites to win and qualify for the last-16; Canada are 4.50 to claim their first ever win at the World Cup; 3.50 for a draw. (Bet365)
