THE runners-up and darlings of World Cup in 2018 are placed with a very good Belgium side. We can expect them both to qualify and the fight will be for the top spot.
The other teams in this group will put up some resistance but they will not be in the top two to qualify. Canada does not have a chance and Morocco are a difficult side to beat but will not qualify to the next round. The aim for sides of this group will be to whip Canada but not lose to the other sides.
World Cup Group F fixtures and match schedule:
Date
Match
Time (AST)
Stadium
Wed, Nov 23
Morocco vs Croatia
6 am
Al Bayt
Wed, Nov 23
Belgium vs Canada
3 pm
Ahmad Bin Ali
Sun, Nov 27
Belgium vs Morocco
9 am
Al Thumama
Sun, Nov 27
Croatia vs Canada
12 noon
Khalifa Int’l
Thurs, Dec. 1
Croatia vs. Belgium
11 am
Ahmad Bin Ali
Thurs, Dec. 1
Canada vs. Morocco
11 am
Al Thumama
Croatia
Croatia won their qualifying group quite easily and did so by losing only to Slovenia. While they will get out of the group, this is an ageing side with a lot of talent but not the legs for a long run. They will count on Luka Modric (Real Madrid of Spain), Ivan Perisic (Tottenham of England), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens of Greece) to lead them out of this weak group.
Current FIFA world ranking: No. 15 (August, 2022)
Regional ranking: 10th (UEFA)
World Cup titles: —
World Cup appearances: 5
How qualified: UEFA Group H winners: 7W-1L-2D
Coach: Zlatko Dalic (Croatia) since October, 2017
Canada
Canada will be the side all other teams are looking towards facing to improve their points and improving their goal difference. Note, that this is the first time in 36 years that they have qualified for the world cup and are at the top of CONCACAF (which tells you how weak we are in the football world). They are depending on Jonathan David (Lille of France), Junior Hoilett (Reading of England), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich of Germany).
Current FIFA world ranking: No 43 (August 2022)
Regional ranking: 4th (CONCACAF)
World Cup titles: —
World Cup appearances: 1 (Mexico, 1986)
Qualified: (CONCACAF winners: 8W-2L-4D)
Coach: John Herdman (England)
Morocco
They are by no means a weak side. They were strong in the qualifying and are fast and well-organised. They have Sofaine Boufal (Angers of France), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain of France), Ayoub Al Kaabi (Hatayspor of Turkey) among the stars of the team. They came to form in a very competitive African group and can be the main threat to Croatia.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 23 (August, 2022)
Regional ranking: 2nd (CAF)
World Cup titles: —
World Cup appearances: 5
Qualified: (CAF Third Round winner: (5-2 vs. DR Congo)
Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic (Bosnia)
Belgium
They are one of the favourites to reach deep in this tournament and can have the ability to lift the cup. It will take a great effort but just look at this team and their key players Kevin De Bryune (Manchester City of England), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan of Italy), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid of Spain). Any team would have been extremely happy to have this roster of players.
It will take a strong team with lots of luck to knock this side out.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 2 (August, 2022)
Regional ranking: 1st (UEFA)
World Cup titles:
World Cup appearances: 13 (Russia 2018)
Qualified: UEFA Group E winners: 6W-0L-2D
Coach: Roberto Martinez (Spain)
This group is not as hard as some of the others and Belgium will have a comfortable first round.
Group F: Croatia, Belgium Fight It Out
By Gerald Lutchman
THE runners-up and darlings of World Cup in 2018 are placed with a very good Belgium side. We can expect them both to qualify and the fight will be for the top spot.
The other teams in this group will put up some resistance but they will not be in the top two to qualify. Canada does not have a chance and Morocco are a difficult side to beat but will not qualify to the next round. The aim for sides of this group will be to whip Canada but not lose to the other sides.
World Cup Group F fixtures and match schedule:
Croatia
Croatia won their qualifying group quite easily and did so by losing only to Slovenia. While they will get out of the group, this is an ageing side with a lot of talent but not the legs for a long run. They will count on Luka Modric (Real Madrid of Spain), Ivan Perisic (Tottenham of England), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens of Greece) to lead them out of this weak group.
Current FIFA world ranking: No. 15 (August, 2022)
Canada
Canada will be the side all other teams are looking towards facing to improve their points and improving their goal difference. Note, that this is the first time in 36 years that they have qualified for the world cup and are at the top of CONCACAF (which tells you how weak we are in the football world). They are depending on Jonathan David (Lille of France), Junior Hoilett (Reading of England), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich of Germany).
Current FIFA world ranking: No 43 (August 2022)
Morocco
They are by no means a weak side. They were strong in the qualifying and are fast and well-organised. They have Sofaine Boufal (Angers of France), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain of France), Ayoub Al Kaabi (Hatayspor of Turkey) among the stars of the team. They came to form in a very competitive African group and can be the main threat to Croatia.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 23 (August, 2022)
Belgium
They are one of the favourites to reach deep in this tournament and can have the ability to lift the cup. It will take a great effort but just look at this team and their key players Kevin De Bryune (Manchester City of England), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan of Italy), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid of Spain). Any team would have been extremely happy to have this roster of players.
It will take a strong team with lots of luck to knock this side out.
Current FIFA world ranking: No 2 (August, 2022)
This group is not as hard as some of the others and Belgium will have a comfortable first round.