World Cup 2022: Group F – Group Portraits, Schedule & Prediction

At first glance, Group F is not a great football country. But on second glance, you can see two 2018 World Cup semi-finalists and two very ambitious foreigners, which could make the group a much heavier and more balanced one.

Belgium: For years there has been talk of a golden generation of football in Belgium. With good reason, if you look at the Belgium national team squad. But the Belgians never got the role of eternal secret favorites in major tournaments. It looked like the big breakthrough at the 2018 World Cup, but the Red Devils lost in the semi-finals to eventual world champions France. Belgium’s golden generation has proven they can compete with the big football nations. Belgium are not the absolute number one in Qatar, which is why despite being ranked second in the FIFA world rankings, the team is somehow only a secret favorite for the 2022 World Cup. Slowly but surely it became clear that this would be the last chance for the Belgians to win a major title with the golden generation. Defender Jan Vertonghen 35, midfield director Kevin De Bruyne 31, captain Eden Hazard. At 29 years old, goalscorer Romelu Lukaku is in prime football age, but has been worried about taking part in the World Cup due to injury. World-class keeper Thibaut Courtois is 30. For Belgium, the 2022 World Cup is “now or never”. Eternal Secret Desire actually wants to gild the golden generation.

Portrait of Group F: Vice-world champions meet ambitious Canadian team

Croatia: Group F features the two semi-finalists of the 2018 World Cup. The Croatians reached the final in Russia and became vice world champions after losing to France. It was an extraordinary success that was celebrated with enthusiasm in a sports-mad nation. Four years later, a lot is different with the Croatian national team. Proponents such as Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic have announced their retirement from the national team after a successful World Cup. A lot of important players actually get over the years. Captain Luka Modric is looking to do it all over again at 37, as is 33-year-old defender Dejan Lovren. Croatia certainly have a powerful squad to deliver in Qatar, but despite their status as runners-up the team are not among the favourites. The national team is not called “Fire” for nothing. Players give their hearts to their own colors on the pitch. This puts Croatia in Group F alongside Belgium in the top two spots and qualifying for the knockout round.

Canada: From a sports perspective, ice hockey is clearly the number one sport in Canada. But ahead of the 2022 World Cup, the North American nation has a real soccer frenzy. The Canadian national team played an excellent World Cup qualifier and impressed with spectacular football. Canada’s chances of a second World Cup appearance since 1986 are better than they were then. In Mexico it made three defeats in the group stage. The Canadians hope above all else is Alphonso Davies of FC Bayer. With Cyle Laurin and Jonathan David, Les Rouges (The Red Race) also have a potent attacking duo with two other European Legionnaires. With these conditions, progress in Group F looks possible despite two tough opponents.

Morocco: Morocco made World Cup history in 1986. The Lions became the first African nation to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup. At the end of the last sixteen match against Germany, Lothar Matthäus scored just before a 1-0 win. As a result, Morocco managed to qualify for the World Cup finals three more times, most recently in 2018, but were always eliminated at the group stage. It would be surprising if that streak was broken at the 2022 World Cup, but not impossible. The Moroccan squad is packed with players who have experience in Europe’s top leagues. The star of the team is Akraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and is one of the best full-backs in the world. Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, who has already announced his career with the national team, could round out the attack. Things changed after Walid took over as recruit coach at the end of August.

Group F: Schedule for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

• Morocco – Croatia: November 23, 2022 at 11:00 AM
• Belgium – Canada: November 23, 2022 at 8:00 PM
• Belgium – Morocco: November 27, 2022 at 2:00 PM
• Croatia – Canada: November 27, 2022 at 5:00 PM
• Croatia – Belgium: December 1, 2022 at 4:00 PM
• Canada – Morocco: December 1, 2022 at 4:00 PM