We continue to look at the groups in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Today we will look at quartet F, featuring Belgium, Canada, Morocco, and World Vice-Champions Croatia. Each team is interesting in their own way, so let's get started!
The highest achievement of the Belgian team is a solid third place at the last World Cup. Coach Roberto Martinez, who has been working with the team for six years, has done an outstanding job. The Belgian team now plays according to the principles of a modern top club and controls any opponent. The team was one of the contenders to capture the cup at the last World Cup, but in the semifinals they were unlucky to meet the French team. The upcoming World Cup may be the last attempt by such a well-played and experienced team to play together. After that there will be a need for a serious rebuilding, but the national team still have a future, there is enough young talent. As for the 2022 World Cup, Belgium got through to the group stage very confidently without losing a single match. So we are definitely waiting for this team in the playoffs!
At the World Championships, Canada is always the main contender to win. But when it comes to hockey, things are not so smooth with football. They first played in the World Cup in 1986, losing three times in a blowout. That was their only World Cup appearance, so if Canada scores a goal in this tournament it will be a legendary event, because it will be their first goal at the Mundial! It is true that the team has changed a lot now. In a couple of years the team blew up 60 places in the FIFA rankings. In qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, they blew out their opponents and went into the World Cup in first place, above the USA and Mexico for a second. With such group neighbors, Canada is unlikely to make the playoffs, but we expect them to fight hard.
Team Morocco is going to the World Cup for the second time in a row. They even made it out of the group once, but that was back in 1986. But now Morocco is a stronger team than ever, many will be surprised, but there are a lot of big names. We will not mention all of them, but here you can find players from PSG, Sevilla, Marseille, Fiorentina, West Ham, Bayern and so on. In general, the players of this national team are actively represented in the top leagues, and that already speaks volumes. But let's not raise false hopes, because Morocco has a strong group and it is unlikely they will make the playoffs even with good players in the squad. Although, surprises are always possible in the short distances, aren't they?
Last World Cup in 2018, the Croatian team created a real sensation, as they reached the final of the tournament, where they lost to France. This is the greatest achievement and none of the fans could have expected such a result from them. At this year's World Cup will go almost a similar squad, because the local legends, such as Luka Modric, no replacement is expected. Therefore, the Croatian squad for this World Cup will be one of the oldest. But in spite of this, this team still has a lot of strength. So we hope that the most experienced players of the national team will be able to show themselves and demonstrate excellent results. They surely will not give up first place in the group, so we wait for the battles with the national team of Belgium!