We are now just days away from the start of the forthcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Therefore, it is entirely fitting that we continue our preview of the tournament by continuing with a look at Group F.
You can check out our previews of other groups in the tournament below:
This group features two of the semi-finalists from the 2018 World Cup Finals in the shape of Belgium and the eventual beaten finalists Croatia. The two European sides are clearly amongst the favourites to qualify from this group, which also includes the rapidly improving Canada as well as the North Africans of Morocco.
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Let’s continue our countdown with a detailed look at the four teams battling to qualify from Group F.
There is no doubt that the two big European teams Belgium and Croatia will start as the favourites to qualify from Group F. Both reached the World Cup Semi Finals in 2018, with Croatia going through to the final before losing to France, while Belgium finished third by beating England in the third placed playoff game.
Canada are an interesting team, blessed with some major talent in the likes of Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Alphonso Davies, they finished top of their qualifying group but they lack the strength in depth of the big European teams and that could be telling especially when teams face three games in the space of around eight days.
Morocco are the dark horses in this group for me. I believe they are capable of picking up something against one of the European teams, especially if they fail to hit the heights, but can they pick up enough points to surprise many and qualify from the group. That I am not too sure about and if they falter, could Canada pick up the slack and be the surprise contenders.
Belgium’s Probable Best XI – (3-4-2-1) – Courtois (GK), Vertonghen (DC), Alderweireld (DC), Debast (DC), Meunier (DMR), T.Hazard (DML), Witsel (MC), Tielemans (MC), E.Hazard (AMC), De Bruyne (AMC), Lukaku (AC)
The golden generation of Belgian talent may have its last realistic chance of World Cup success here as by the time the next World Cup comes around the likes of Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Hazard, Witsel and maybe even De Bruyne and Lukaku may well be past their best.
However, at the moment, this is an experienced team that is well set to go deep into the tournament once again. Injuries can hit Belgium hard with a number of players, like Hazard, Lukaku and Witsel prone to injuries, but they do have strength in depth.
In my view Belgium will win this group. They should also do so with maximum points, but it may be a close run thing with Croatia.
Canada’s Probable Best XI – (3-4-1-2)- Borjan (GK), Miller (DC), Vitoria (DC), Johnston (DC), Hoilett (DMR), Adekugbe (DML), Eustacquio (DMC), Piette (DMC), Davies (AMC), David (AC), Larin (AC)
John Herdman’s team are something of an unknown prospect in Europe, but it should be noted that they finished top of the North and Central American qualifying group ahead of both the United States and Mexico, and quite comfortably too.
Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich is the star man of the team and he plays a more advanced role for Canada, just behind the two main strikers of Cyle Larin and Jonathan David, the latter of whom plays his club football for Lille and who is a wanted many by a number of top European sides.
The rest of the Canadian squad though is made up of MLS and domestic footballers, with a smattering of players from other leagues around the world. That’s not necessarily a problem, it can have its benefits, but it is fair to say that they have the weakest squad in depth of all four teams in the group.
I don’t think Canada will finish pointless but I do feel they may struggle to avoid being bottom of the group.
Morocco’s Probable Best XI – (4-3-3) – Bono (GK), Hakimi (DR), Mazraoui (DL), Dari (DC), Saiss (DC), Amrabat (DMC), Ounahi (MC), Amallah (MC), Boufal (AML), Ziyech (AMR), En Nesyri (AC)
Don’t be fooled by their poor performance at the 2018 World Cup, this is a talented Morocco team that should have done better at the recent African Cup of Nations. They have an outstanding pair of full backs in Hakimi and Mazraoui, as well as a trio of fantastic attackeers in Boufal, Ziyech and En Neysri.
Where they are lacking is in midfield and that may well be their undoing in this group as I can see the likes of Croatia and Belgium being able to control the game against them from this area of the pitch and eventually, that will lead to their opponents finding the net.
Morocco don’t concede too many goals and on their day they can give any team a run for their money as they did with a 2-2 draw against Spain in the last World Cup. However, I do feel their lack of goals is going to be what makes them miss out on qualifying from this group.
Croatia’s Probable Best XI – (4-3-3)- Livakovic (GK), Stanisic (DR), Barisic (DL), Gvardiol (DC), Lovren (DC), Brozovic (MC), Modric (MC), Kovacic (MC), Vlasic (AMR), Perisic (AML), Kramaric (AC)
Runners up at the last World Cup, Croatia struggled to shake off a hangover from that defeat in the immediate period following the last competition, but they have roared back to form of late, qualifying well from their group and also performing superbly in the recent Nations League tournament.
Luke Modric is still the conductor of the orchestra and his influence in midfield remains and with Kovacic and Brozovic doing the running for the captain, he will continue to have a major influence on this team.
If Croatia have a weakness it is arguably defensively and that may be the way teams can get at them. However, it is going to be an intriguing battle between this Croatia side and Belgium in the group stage and the winner of that game will likely be the team to top the group.
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