Group F Opponent Watch (Belgium, Croatia, Morocco)

[Atlantic]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium_national_football_team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_football_team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco_national_football_team

Thread to discuss about the teams 

[canadasoccer20]

I can't believe this is an actual thread. A opponent watch for a WORLD CUP. Am I dreaming?

[narduch]

Great idea for a thread.

[Cowtown Kyle]

Let’s go!!

[narduch]

Croatia and Belgium both qualified by topping their groups.

Morocco qualified without really playing any team of note. They won the group stage easily (versus Guinea-Bissau, Guinea & Sudan) and then played DR Congo in the final round.

[sebdeserio]

Borjan is apparently public enemy number 1 for the Croatian media so that'll be a fun narrative to follow.

[Kadenge]

1 minute ago, sebdeserio said:

Borjan is apparently public enemy number 1 for the Croatian media so that'll be a fun narrative to follow.

It's ok all the Serbs will be cheering for us

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

The "traitor" Bounou has renewed his Sevilla contract.

https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/sevilla/2022/03/30/sevilla-fc-cierra-renovacion-bono/388441.html

Did he get a concussion during the playoff match? How injured is he?

[gator]

I watch Morocco's Ilias Chair every week as he plays for QPR, he is a very talented creative midfielder who can score and it will be interesting to see how we cope with him when he plays!

[ADP10]

A situation to watch for Morocco is if Zyiech ends up playing. He is retired as of now, but he’d probably be their 2nd best player behind Hakimi

[ob1]

View from Belgium- Sporza 
https://sporza.be/nl/2022/04/01/peter-vandenbempt-ziet-opwindende-loting-maar-waarschuwt-ook-de-weg-loopt-steil-bergop~1648840416784/

https://sporza.be/nl/2022/04/01/een-gouden-generatie-modric-als-motor-en-ruzie-met-vedettes-dit-zijn-de-wk-tegenstanders-van-belgie~1648829890491/

[Corazon]

Kind words from Belgium Coach Roberto Marinez

 

 

[Kadenge]

I've been one of the more bullish posters during WCQ but this is a massive step up. The US & Mexico underperformed during the Octo especially scoring goals. I don't think our defense has really been tested yet. We need to inject some speed and height into our back 3/4. We can't rely on just 1 player (Vitoria/Henry) to deal with aerial defense with the likes of Lukaku etc. CR, Jamaica, Panama away & Mexico at home in the last 10mins was a small sample of how poor we were with crosses or set plays into the box. We could have been down multiple goals with the free headers those teams were given. Honduras at home outside the box (Borjan save) was another 

[BigMo]

48 minutes ago, ADP10 said:

A situation to watch for Morocco is if Zyiech ends up playing. He is retired as of now, but he’d probably be their 2nd best player behind Hakimi

Same deal with Ajax right back Mazraoui who also fell out with the manager

[canuckgbp]

Apparently Morocco have some turmoil in their squad between the manager and some key players? Was listening to a video discussing it. Maybe something to keep an eye on. 

[footballfreak]

Not sure whether or not this is the thread to ask this question in, but who should we be looking at for prep friendlies against comparable teams?

[Markoaleks]

Phonzie will unleash the Kraken in the WC-missed 2 game windows and will make up for it at WC, his emotion when we qualified will be fuel to him

other teams are good -not going to split hairs re us V them, but this WC will be a coming out party for many of our lads 

M Borjan will be very focused on the Croatia game for reasons my Balkan brothers on this forum will know very well 

Edited April 1, 2022 by Markoaleks

[TGAA_Star]

I got Canada drawing in the first Match against Belgium and then against Croatia I think we win that game and then Morocco I think we lose 

[Rougeisthecolour]

Here is some pre-draw analysis on the three teams we drew facing Canada.

After that, grabbing the lowest ranked Pot 2 team in Croatia would be solid. This team remains formidable, but it's a far cry from the squad that made the 2018 World Cup final. Luka Modric can still boss games, but Canada would be an ideal matchup as a team that can absorb pressure and counter against a weak Croatia defense.

Pot 1 in general is loaded with extremely talented squads, so finding openings is difficult. Belgium, with its possession-based style of play, would be a good matchup for Canada who could hit on the counter, as stated above with Croatia.

In Pot 3 there are some dangerous teams, but an opening could be found with Morocco. The Atlas Lions had a good showing at the Africa Cup of Nations, but having to come from behind against 120th-ranked Malawi before conceding two goals to a negative Egypt attack shows the defense can be beaten.

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/soccer/news/canada-world-cup-draw-scenarios/oknfqeke4ean0nwnlgghdlcx

[TGAA_Star]

2 hours ago, Corazon said:

Kind words from Belgium Coach Roberto Marinez

 

 

Yeah because we're a wild card an unknown 

[El Diego]

47 minutes ago, Rougeisthecolour said:

Here is some pre-draw analysis on the three teams we drew facing Canada.

After that, grabbing the lowest ranked Pot 2 team in Croatia would be solid. This team remains formidable, but it's a far cry from the squad that made the 2018 World Cup final. Luka Modric can still boss games, but Canada would be an ideal matchup as a team that can absorb pressure and counter against a weak Croatia defense.

Pot 1 in general is loaded with extremely talented squads, so finding openings is difficult. Belgium, with its possession-based style of play, would be a good matchup for Canada who could hit on the counter, as stated above with Croatia.

In Pot 3 there are some dangerous teams, but an opening could be found with Morocco. The Atlas Lions had a good showing at the Africa Cup of Nations, but having to come from behind against 120th-ranked Malawi before conceding two goals to a negative Egypt attack shows the defense can be beaten.

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/soccer/news/canada-world-cup-draw-scenarios/oknfqeke4ean0nwnlgghdlcx

Regarding the bold, I don't disagree in a vacuum, but this is conveniently ignoring Brozovic and Kovacic in midfield. Those two guys are absolute beasts and really good firemen.

[Rougeisthecolour]

12 minutes ago, El Diego said:

Regarding the bold, I don't disagree in a vacuum, but this is conveniently ignoring Brozovic and Kovacic in midfield. Those two guys are absolute beasts and really good firemen.

I agree. I have seen quite a bit of Kovacic and he can be a special player most games. It's going to be fun!

[Sal333]

22 minutes ago, El Diego said:

Regarding the bold, I don't disagree in a vacuum, but this is conveniently ignoring Brozovic and Kovacic in midfield. Those two guys are absolute beasts and really good firemen.

Those firemen will be useless against our napalm offense.

[TOcanadafan]

I didn’t realize how”European” the Morocco team is… majority of players not born in Morocco (France, Spain, Netherlands Belgium).

[frmr]

5 hours ago, canadasoccer20 said:

I can't believe this is an actual thread. A opponent watch for a WORLD CUP. Am I dreaming?

APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!