World Cup preview: Everything you need to know about Group F

Belgium ??

• Manager: Roberto Martinez
• Nickname: The Red Devils
• FIFA ranking: 2
• Best World Cup finish: Third place (2018)
• Betting odds: +1600

Player to watch

Kevin De Bruyne. Belgium’s talisman also happens to be the most dominant midfielder on the planet right now. Regardless of any other issues plaguing the team – more on those later on – De Bruyne offers a get-out-of-jail-free card with his sumptuous, almost unexplainable passing range. The 31-year-old is in spectacular form with Manchester City, and with the skills of some longstanding international teammates beginning to wane, the onus is on De Bruyne now more than ever to ensure Belgium’s golden generation doesn’t come away empty-handed. De Bruyne, fit and firing at the perfect time – unlike at Euro 2020 when injuries blunted his brilliance – will carry the Red Devils.

Projected starting XI (3-4-2-1)

Courtois; Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Debast; Carrasco, Witsel, Tielemans, Meunier; Hazard, De Bruyne; Lukaku

Martinez isn’t going to stray from his system now. That’s a major point of contention amongst Belgian fans, many of whom have grown frustrated as the Spanish tactician, who also serves as the technical director of the Belgian FA, embarks on the last tournament of his six-year tenure as coach. Martinez’s reign has gone stale to some degree as he continues to rely on many of the same players who have yet to help the team get over the hump. It’s possible Belgium already peaked with its third-place showing four years ago. Questions over the fitness of Romelu Lukaku, whose injury issues may force him to watch from the bench in favor of Michy Batshuayi – at least in the opener against Canada – mean the team isn’t settled.

Key question

What will Belgium get out of Lukaku and Eden Hazard? Belgium has the best midfielder alive in De Bruyne and arguably the premier shot-stopper in Thibaut Courtois, but it’s the status of two other veterans that will largely determine the success, or failure, of this team in Qatar. Lukaku and Hazard have made just seven league appearances – and only four starts – between them this season for Inter Milan and Real Madrid, respectively. Hazard’s career has all but evaporated since moving to Spain. He remains the Belgian captain, though, and rightly or wrongly, Martinez will rely on him.

“Eden is still of great value for Belgium,” Martinez said, defending the 31-year-old. “The question is whether he can play 90 minutes and whether he can handle seven matches in a short period of time. No one is looking away from that reality. Eden hasn’t played at a constant level for a long time, and that has consequences. But he showed his worth during the last international break.”

Canada ??

• Manager: John Herdman
• Nickname: Les Rouges
• FIFA ranking: 41
• Best World Cup finish: Group stage (1986)
• Betting odds: +15000

Player to watch

Alphonso Davies. The undisputed star of Canadian football, Davies’ rise has mirrored that of his national team, which is enjoying a meteoric ascent under influential manager Herdman. Canada breathed an enormous sigh of relief when the electrifying Bayern Munich star escaped a serious hamstring injury just two weeks before the World Cup. Even if he isn’t quite operating at 100% fitness in Qatar, Davies is still more than explosive enough to change games on his own and deliver indelible moments for a nation that has waited 36 years to see its men’s team at the World Cup. Playing a more free, attacking role for Canada compared to his usage at left-back at club level, the 22-year-old is at the core of everything Canada creates offensively.

Projected starting XI (3-4-3)

Borjan; Miller, Vitoria, Johnston; Adekugbe, Hutchinson, Eustaquio, Laryea; Davies, David, Buchanan

A pliable setup has been critical to Canada’s success under Herdman. The Englishman, who has taken Les Rouges to new heights after accomplishing similar feats with the women’s team, is adept at changing his tactics when necessary, seamlessly moving between a 3-4-3, 3-4-1-2, and even formations with four defenders. Playing with three central defenders and flying wing-backs is likely the preferred approach, though, as it allows Canada to take advantage of its blistering pace down the flanks. Davies’ positioning will be interesting, too, as he can stay out wide or float into central areas if Herdman decides to play with two strikers in Jonathan David and all-time leading scorer Cyle Larin. Balance, speed, aggression, and flexibility helped Canada top CONCACAF qualifying, and those principles won’t be abandoned.

Key question

How will Canada handle the obvious step up in quality from qualifying to the real thing? Despite being young and relatively inexperienced – at least on an international stage of this caliber – Canada is quietly confident. Herdman’s enthusiastic team won’t cower or shrink in Qatar, even if there’s an overall talent gap to make up against the likes of Belgium and Croatia. The Canadians continue to rise to the occasion.

The pre-tournament loss against Uruguay was both encouraging and revealing. Yes, Canada paid for its mistakes in the 2-0 friendly defeat – an important reminder of how the best teams and players can punish even the slightest lapse. But the Canadians performed well overall and created quality chances that, with a little more poise inside the penalty area, could have resulted in at least a couple of goals on the day. “What the players realize now is that we are right there. Some of the work in the attack just wasn’t clinical enough, but we are close,” Herdman said of the contest. Canada has eyes on an upset in Group F.

Morocco ??

• Manager: Walid Regragui
• Nickname: Atlas Lions
• FIFA ranking: 22
• Best World Cup finish: Round of 16 (1986)
• Betting odds: +20000

Player to watch

Achraf Hakimi. Yes, Hakim Ziyech may now be back in the fold, but Hakimi remains the most talented player in the Moroccan ranks. The Paris Saint-Germain full-back is unyielding in his desire to surge forward and contribute to the attack, equally capable of whipping in excellent crosses or racing into the penalty area to find the net himself. Coming from his nominally defensive position, it gives Morocco a unique advantage, especially combined with Noussair Mazraoui on the opposite flank. “Hakimi is a phenomenon. I’ve never seen anybody like him, and I’m almost 70,” former manager Vahid Halilhodzic said of the Madrid-born star. Already decorated at club level, the 24-year-old is the engine powering Morocco’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

Projected starting XI (4-3-3)

Bounou; Mazraoui, Saiss, Aguerd, Hakimi; Ouanahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Boufal, En-Nesyri, Ziyech

It’s difficult to pin down tactical expectations for Morocco, considering Regragui only took the job in August, replacing the divisive Halilhodzic. Incredibly – and unfortunately, for the Bosnian – this was the third time in his career that Halilhodzic had led a team to the World Cup but been fired before the tournament began. His fallout with Ziyech and tumbling morale within the squad was a key reason. Regragui’s appointment has been viewed as a positive within the camp, though his job became more difficult when influential midfielder Amine Harit recently sustained a knee injury. With little time to prepare, Regragui will need to rely on his flying full-backs to provide width and attacking thrust, while Ziyech will need to rediscover the magic he once conjured with ease before joining Chelsea.

Key question

Where will the goals come from? Youssef En-Nesyri’s scoring touch has disappeared since a muscular injury in late 2021. Once a prolific frontman for Sevilla, En-Nesyri has found the net just five times in La Liga since the start of the 2021-22 campaign. Without his presence up front, Morocco lacks anything close to an established finisher.

The rest of the squad may have been talented enough to overcome that glaring issue in another group, but after coming up against Portugal and Spain four years ago, the Atlas Lions were unfortunately handed another difficult draw this time around. Can they score enough to surprise established heavyweights Belgium and Croatia to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 1986?

Croatia ??

• Manager: Zlatko Dalic
• Nickname: The Vatreni
• FIFA ranking: 12
• Best World Cup finish: Runner-up (2018)
• Betting odds: +4000

Player to watch

Luka Modric. Father Time eventually comes for every player. He’s being patient with Modric, though, who remains the focal point and inspirational captain of Dalic’s team at 37 years old. The Real Madrid maestro, who has been a fixture of the national setup for 16 years, remains an indefatigable presence at the heart of midfield, never tiring, always working hard, and consistently trying to get on the ball and create scoring chances for his teammates. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner can still do it all and will be the key player for Croatia until he hangs up his boots.

Projected starting XI (4-3-3)

Livakovic; Sosa, Gvardiol, Sutalo, Juranovic; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Perisic, Livaja, Vlasic

When you’re blessed with an elite midfield trio consisting of all-time great Modric, calm conductor Marcelo Brozovic, and energetic dribbler Mateo Kovacic, your style of play, to an extent, is decided. Dalic recognizes that. “When you have a midfield like ours, you have to strive to move the ball and create your chances through possession. We must play out of the back, and when midfielders don’t have to drop deep to get the ball, we are more dangerous.” Using a 4-3-3 formation that combines the skills of those three stars – who have combined for over 300 caps – Croatia will look to dictate play in Group F, while veteran winger Ivan Perisic will surely make an impact, as he always seems to at major tournaments.

Key question

Is Croatia good – or deep – enough at the top and tail? The heart of this team, as discussed above, is excellent. But there are concerns for Dalic over his options both in goal and up front. Dinamo Zagreb’s Dominik Livakovic is expected to start between the sticks, but he hasn’t inspired total confidence, while the lack of an established scoring threat through the middle is a concern, too.

Dalic has done well to revamp what was an aging defense, introducing Josip Sutalo and Josko Gvardiol – who are 22 and 20, respectively – to replace former stalwarts Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida. The result is a more mobile backline that can pass out from the back and allow Modric to play higher up the pitch instead of dropping deep to receive the ball. But no matter what positive changes Dalic has made, having an unconvincing netminder and center-forward can undo good work elsewhere. That could come back to haunt Croatia in its bid to go one better after reaching the final in Russia.

Predictions ?

One of the more intriguing groups in the tournament thanks to the waning talents of Belgium, which, despite question marks, remains the favorite for Opta’s statisticians. De Bruyne can patch up holes by himself. Both Canada and Morocco believe in their abilities to upset the European sides, and with good reason. While it will be tight, Croatia should have just enough to hold off the lively challengers. This group will be closer than many expect.

1. Belgium
2. Croatia
3. Canada
4. Morocco