World Cup Preview | Group F | 2018 runners-up Croatia have revenge on their mind while last chance for Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’

The 2022 World Cup kicks off this Sunday with Qatar and Ecuador getting the tournament underway.

For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup will take place midseason in relation to Europe’s top five Leagues with 32 teams setting their sights on Qatar.

The nature of timing ensures a number of players will miss out while the Republic Of Ireland also failed to qualify.

But with the World Cup approaching, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the nations competing, group by group.

On Monday we previewed we had Group A & Group B.

Yesterday was the turn of Group C & Group D.

Earlier we had Group E but now we look ahead to Group F, which contains Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia.

Belgium

Manager – Roberto Martinez

Best WC Finish – Third Place (2018)

2018 WC Finish – Third Place

FIFA World Ranking – 2nd

Tournament Odds – 18/1

In the last decade, Belgium have went from being an ‘outsider’s bet’ to one of the world’s elite, but yet The Red Devils have nothing to show for it.

Although they’re currently ranked second in the world, according to the official FIFA rankings, they’re the ninth favourite side to win the tournament which speaks volumes of their form in the latter stages of major tournaments despite the quality they possess.

Players that were playing as a part of their ‘Golden Generation’ can still be found in the 26-man squad ahead of this tournament but they have aged since their previous outings.

The centre-back pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, who are 35 and 33 respectively lack the pace they once had and can be caught out by explosive attackers. Eden Hazard, who once had the world at his feet, has struggled with injuries and fitness since his move to Real Madrid in 2019 and will look a shadow of the player we saw in 2018.

But still, it’s not all doom and gloom for Roberto Martinez who has Kevin de Bruyne, possibly the best midfielder in the PL at his disposal as well Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere have been in sensational form this season and will be needed if they’re to finally make it to the final of the competition.

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Canada

Manager – John Herdman

Best WC Finish – Group Stage (1986)

2018 WC Finish – N/A

FIFA World Ranking – 41st

Tournament Odds – 300/1

Canada will make an appearance at World Cup for the first time in 36 years, their only other appearance in the competition. They failed to make it out of their group in their only attempt where they lost all three games against France, Hungary and the USSR.

But now, a new generation of players has emerged, spear-headed by Bayern Munich dynamo Alphonso Davies. The 22-year-old, who was named in the 2021 FIFPro World XI, is already a Champions League winner with the Bavarian side and has been a revelation for Canada since he made his debut for the National Team in June 2017.

It’s not just Davies that’s making waves in Europe, striker Johnathan David has impressed for Ligue 1 side Lille since his transfer in 2020, with nine goals already this season with a number of clubs monitoring his progress at the moment.

The side will be led by Besiktas’ Atiba Hutchinson as they aim to make history for their national side.

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Morocco

Manager – Walid Regragui

Best WC Finish – Last 16 (1986)

2018 WC Finish – Group Stages

FIFA World Ranking – 22nd

Tournament Odds – 300/1

Morocco will be competing in their sixth World Cup since their maiden in tournament in the 1970 Mexico edition.

It’s the second time they’ve made it back-to-back tournament with the African country also making an appearance in 2018. Losses to Portugal and Iran were finalized with an impressive draw to Spain as the side were sent home with one point to their name.

Morocco looked unstoppable in their qualifying campaign, winning six games out of six in their second round of qualifying. They followed this feat with a 5-2 aggregate victory over two legs against DR Congo to seal their place in this year’s competition.

Although their odds appear as if they don’t stand a chance, a handful of the side are competing with Europe’s best including PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui of Bayern Munich to name a few. Unfortunately, Amine Harit suffered a cruciate ligament sprain this week and will now miss the tournament.

It’s a real possibility that Morocco can go one better this year, but will have to be on their best form to achieve such a feat.

Croatia

Manager – Zlatko Dalic

Best WC Finish – Runners-Up (2018)

2018 WC Finish – Runners-Up

FIFA World Ranking – 12th

Tournament Odds – 35/1

Any final loss is tough to take, but a World Cup Final defeat can be a tough one to get over for any side.

Croatia were outstanding throughout the whole campaign with wins against England and Argentina in the run-in to the final the pick of the bunch but France were just too strong for them in the end. It was a campaign that saw captain Luka Modric rewarded for his efforts with the Golden Ball trophy as well as the 2018 Ballon d’Or.

However, they’ll have to put their misery of 2018 behind them ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

Seven wins and two draws from their qualifying group was enough to ensure a place in the 2022 edition as they look poised to return to the heights they hit four years ago.

Veteran captain Luka Modric will more than likely be competing in his last World Cup while other 2018 heroes such as Dejan Lovren, Ivan Perisic and Mateo Kovacic remain in the side.

If Croatia can find the same rhythm that nearly took them all the way, they’ll have no problem escaping the group.