Group F Predictions 2022

Group F is another group which might have surprises in store for us. It has heavyweights Belgium and Croatia battling it out against Canada and Morocco. Belgium finished the 2018 World Cup in an impressive 3rd place while Croatia did one better four years ago, finishing runners-up to France. Canada had a really good qualifying campaign in what is their 2nd ever appearance at the World Cup while Morocco also did well to get a ticket to Qatar.

Belgium

Belgium, after four years at the top of the FIFA World Rankings, dropped off to 2nd as Brazil took their place instead. They are the only nation to have been placed 1st in the rankings and never won a continental or international cup. The Golden Generation that’s been touted for the last years is running out of time and this may yet be the last chance they have to write their names in the history books.

Their qualifying campaign was very efficient waltzing past the likes of Wales and the Czech Republic. They went through undefeated, averaging over 3 goals per match and Romelu Lukaku was the highest scorer with 8 goals. The latter has a muscle injury and is sitting out games for Inter Milan but should be fine for the World Cup. The real engine of the team however is without a doubt Kevin de Bruyne who is one of the most complete footballers in world football. Much of Manchester City’s success in the past seasons has been down to his form and ability to create chances and assists out of thin air.

Roberto Martinez has been head coach since 2016 and spent the previous decade coaching in the Premier League. He really has to deliver this time around, as under his management Belgium have built a reputation of being really good on paper but failing when it really matters.

Canada

Canada are making their first appearance since 1986 and had a qualifying campaign to remember finishing first, above Mexico and the United States. They were quite strong against their biggest rivals and managed to claim a qualifying win against the United States for the first time since 1980. Their win over Mexico was also the first since 2000. This bodes extremely well for their chances in Qatar. Alphonso Davies, who plies his trade with Bayern Munich at just 21 years old is the star man with the spotlight definitely on him. Manager John Herdman spent seven years of the last decade managing the Canadian Women’s team and led them to a couple of bronze medals at the Summer Olympics. He switched to the men’s team in 2018 and the progress his team has made is quite remarkable. Canada will be willing to prove that sport in Canada goes beyond Ice Hockey.

Croatia

Croatia would be hoping to go one better in Qatar after they lost the final in 2018 against France but it may be a tough ask. They topped the qualifying group which included Russia, Slovakia and Slovenia, their only loss coming in the first match against the latter. They are in good form at the moment and it’s a thing of awe that Luka Modric, at 37 years old is still pulling the strings for the team in the heart of the midfield.

His exploits in the last World Cup earned him a Ballon D’or but that cannot be the case again after Benzema picked the award in October. Last season he helped Real Madrid to the title and their 14th Champions League title and it would not be amiss to say that a lot of Croatia’s hopes depend on his performances. Zlatko Dalic was the orchestrator of the 2018 run for Croatia and he is still at the helm for his second go at the World Cup. Their Nations League campaign was also very positive topping their group which included Denmark and France.

Morocco

The final team in the group, Morocco, had an almost perfect record in the Qualification, scoring 20 and conceding just one and then blasting past Congo in the playoffs. The opposition they faced, however, is nothing compared to what they will have to contend with in Qatar. This is the sixth overall World Cup for the Atlas Lions and the 2nd consecutive one. Their 2018 campaign was dismal but that was a tough group as it included Spain and Portugal.

Achraf Hakimi recently voted as Morocco’s favourite celebrity will lead the line, even though he plays right back. At just 23 years of age, he boasts of impeccable experience having played for the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and PSG. On the other side, Mazraoui playing for Bayern Munich makes the sides quite exciting for Morocco. Hakimi Ziyech, while not very explosive for his current club Chelsea, has got back in the side and much will be expected of him.

They have to make up for their lack of options upfront as En-Nesyri’s form for Sevilla has floundered of late. The current coach, Regragui, has only been in the dugout since last August after the previous manager had a lot of friction with certain members of the squad.

Conclusion

Belgium are odds on winning this group and are given a 65% probability of doing so. Their experience and star quality across the board help with this and one would be surprised not to see them making it at least to the quarter-final stage. Like Belgium, Croatia might have their last chance at a cup with their own set of a golden generation. They are expected to make it out of the group stage in 2nd place.

Canada are being considered as favourites to end bottom of the group but there is an outside shot of them making it out of the group. They are very capable of being one of the dark horses of the competition and it would be a shame not to follow their qualifying campaign with something substantial in the finals.

Morocco had high hopes in the last World Cup and the results were not indicative of their performances. With Group F containing two semi-finalists from the last World Cup it is difficult to see anything past those two. However, shocks are still on the cards and that is what makes Football the most exciting sport in the world. Canada might take their form to the World Cup and Morocco might not want to have a fourth successive early departure.