FIFA WC 2022 Group F: The FIFA WC 2022 Group F takes centre stage next with the four competitors looking to turn heads with their performances.
The table includes Belgium, 2018 runners up Croatia, Morocco and CONCACAF representatives, Canada.
This group is expected to be one of the most exciting ones given the quality each side possesses.
Canada return for just their 2nd ever WC Finals appearance after their participation in the 1986 World Cup.
Group F Fixtures & Schedule
Date |
Match |
Time (IST) |
Stadium/Venue |
Wednesday 23rd Nov | Morocco vs Croatia | 03:30 PM | Al Bayt Stadium |
Thursday 24th Nov | Belgium vs Canada | 12:30 AM | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium |
Sunday 27th Nov | Belgium vs Morocco | 06:30 PM | Al Thumama Ali Stadium |
Sunday 27th Nov | Croatia vs Canada | 09:30 PM | Khalifa International Stadium |
Thursday 1st Dec | Canada vs Morocco | 08:30 PM | Al Thumama Stadium |
Thursday 1st Dec | Croatia vs Belgium | 08:30 PM | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium |
The group is to be played in a round robin format with the top 2 teams qualifying for the knockouts of the competition.
If points are similar at the end of the group stage, then the qualifiers are selected on basis of Goal difference.
Belgium, Croatia and Canada pose a vital challenge in this group with Morocco looking to come out of their shadows and proving their might at the stage.
Analysis Per Team
Belgium
The Belgian Red Devils booked their place in this World Cup by topping their WCQ group with 20 points from 8 matches.
Belgium hopes to use this opportunity once again to excel after securing a 3rd place finish in the 2018 edition.
The Belgian side is filled with quality from top to bottom with the likes of De Bruyne, Hazard, Mertens, Lukaku, Carrasco and others aiming for glory.
There is abundance of experience, maturity and skilled players in this squad; which makes them one of the expected top performers.
Martinez’s men have the capability of lasting the distance but can’t avoid faltering in the knockouts; a stage where it just hasn’t clicked.
Croatia
2018 WC Runners-up, Croatia is the 2nd team in the group. The Checkered ones are led out by captain marvel, Luka Modric in probably his final World Cup.
Croatia managed a top table finish which ensured qualification into the Qatar event having picked up 23 points from 10 matches.
Their experience, passion and unmatched support gives them the hopes of pushing for yet another shot at the crown.
However, with aging players Croatia needs to judiciously use their cards.
From Kramaric, Vlasic, Pasalic to Modric, Brekalo and Vrsaljko; Croatia has got a well-established unit.
This gives the Blazers a positive chance in the competition.
Morocco
The African side needed to use the play-off route win over DR Congo to seal their place in their 2nd successive WC.
Morocco beat DR Congo 5-2 on aggregate to ensure the African team books their ticket to Qatar, and once again try to make this a positive journey.
The Atlas Lions managed a group stage finish in the 2018 event and hope to push for a knockouts place this time.
YOU all made Casablanca shook, 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧!! 🔥🔥🔥 𝗢𝗙𝗙 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗔 #𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗤𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 🔥🔥🔥#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #FIFAWorldCupQualifiers #WCQ2022 #TeamMorocco pic.twitter.com/JgjwnEi8sk
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) March 29, 2022
Led by Captain Roman Saiss, the Moroccan side hope to gain more supporters and impress the world with their style of play.
Recent successes and results in AFCON 2018 and 2020 showed their maturity due to which they aim to exceed expectations against the world in the upcoming event.
We don’t see Morocco making it through the group stage however due to their inexperience at the stage and being overawed by the occasion.
However, it remains another opportunity to get to the world stage and create an impact.
Canada
Canada makes just their 2nd World Cup appearance after 1986 and will hope to make this occasion a festive one.
The Reds/Maple Leafs topped their WCQ group in the CONCACAF with 28 points from 14 matches.
Congrats to Canada for qualifying for the 2022 FIFA WC in Qatar… see you in Qatar#FIFA22 #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/LdzcJkShrv
— Advocate🔴 (@hadvocate2) March 27, 2022
Lille and Reading striker, Jonathan David and Junior Hoilett led the way for Canada with their impressive striking in front of goal.
Apart from them, the likes of Davies, Cornelius, Buchanan, Kone and others showed their relentless energy and spirit with excellent performances.
Canada is given an outside chance in this World Cup due to the lack of experience but make no mistake, this side has a number of quality players.