Group F Opponent Watch (Belgium, Croatia, Morocco)

[TGAA_Star]

For Canada waiting until the 13th to release our squad is actually pretty smart but then again by releasing it late, it could backfire. Think about it especially if you release it on such short notice and then having to round up your 26 guys and go to Qatar or UAE to train on such short notice, like it could backfire.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

On 11/9/2022 at 5:25 AM, scullion44 said:

Croatia roster 

Thanks. Now we have all the rosters

[Blondo]

No major surprises among Belgium's 26. There are valid reasons for the inclusions of fringe players like Debast, Doku and Mertens. Personally I feel it's a tournament too early for Debast and he was quite nervy last window, making mistakes in both games. Yet I don't mind if Martinez is simply bringing him for experience. The choice for Mertens isn't so much about what he can do on the pitch but rather in the dressing room. Great guy and definitely deserves one last hurrah.

PS turns out Belgium's final team is younger than Brazil's one.

[El Hombre]

1 hour ago, TGAA_Star said:

For Canada waiting until the 13th to release our squad is actually pretty smart but then again by releasing it late, it could backfire. Think about it especially if you release it on such short notice and then having to round up your 26 guys and go to Qatar or UAE to train on such short notice, like it could backfire.

On the one hand it's good.  On the other it could be bad.  On the third hand, it's likely that 95% of those going have already been notified that they are going so it's not like a bunch of last minute calls are being made.  On the fourth hand, might as well wait until as late as possible in case there are injuries.  On the fifth hand, all our backups are already in Bahrain in case they need to be called in.  On the sixth hand...wait a minute...

[Free kick]

5 hours ago, El Hombre said:

On the one hand it's good.  On the other it could be bad.  On the third hand, it's likely that 95% of those going have already been notified that they are going so it's not like a bunch of last minute calls are being made.  On the fourth hand, might as well wait until as late as possible in case there are injuries.  On the fifth hand, all our backups are already in Bahrain in case they need to be called in.  On the sixth hand...wait a minute...

You could have mentioned:

"And that is who Canada have to see first"

In reference to a reply to a post speculating on the Belgium squad.  🙄

[Free kick]

Deleted

Removing this as it was posted in the wrong thread

Edited November 11, 2022 by Free kick

[RJB]

On 11/10/2022 at 5:42 AM, TGAA_Star said:

For Canada waiting until the 13th to release our squad is actually pretty smart but then again by releasing it late, it could backfire. Think about it especially if you release it on such short notice and then having to round up your 26 guys and go to Qatar or UAE to train on such short notice, like it could backfire.

Surely the players will know before the 13th, no?

[Kadenge]

Not sure if anyone watched Belgium vs Japan R16 replay on TSN yesterday. Japan led 2-0 into the 68'. Belgium equalized within 5 mins starting off with an unlikely high and long header by Vertonghen which looked like an attempt to just play the ball into the box. Fellaini then equalized with another header. The winner by Belgium came with practically the last kick of the game in extra time. It was from a quick counter starting with Courtois and then KDB and finished off by Chadli. With the exception of KDB and Hazard that Belgium team looked like they were picked from the land of giants, which explains the 2 goals scored from headers. They towered over Japan. Having said that Japan attacked Belgium all game and did not bunker. They had glorious opportunities to score and win it in regulation time but came up short. I counted at least 12 players, perhaps more, from that 2018 team who are on the current roster. I'm not sure if our defenders match up to Japan  but our forwards are at least as good. If we do play on the front foot, we are going to get chances. The question is can we score more or as many as we concede?

[TGAA_Star]

22 minutes ago, Kadenge said:

Not sure if anyone watched Belgium vs Japan R16 replay on TSN yesterday. Japan led 2-0 into the 68'. Belgium equalized within 5 mins starting off with an unlikely high and long header by Vertonghen which looked like an attempt to just play the ball into the box. Fellaini then equalized with another header. The winner by Belgium came with practically the last kick of the game in extra time. It was from a quick counter starting with Courtois and then KDB and finished off by Chadli. With the exception of KDB and Hazard that Belgium team looked like they were picked from the land of giants, which explains the 2 goals scored from headers. They towered over Japan. Having said that Japan attacked Belgium all game and did not bunker. They had glorious opportunities to score and win it in regulation time but came up short. I counted at least 12 players, perhaps more, from that 2018 team who are on the current roster. I'm not sure if our defenders match up to Japan  but our forwards are at least as good. If we do play on the front foot, we are going to get chances. The question is can we score more or as many as we concede?

But let's not forget Canada is going up against a world class keeper in Courtois

[narduch]

 

[red card]

We Global an consulting, analytics, probabilities focused football firm had a podcast covering Group F. The difference is that they bring 4 people who regularly cover the 4 national teams with Adam Jenkins repping Canada. It was done a few days ago.

 

 

[red card]

Athletic's Total Soccer Show podcast Group F look see. American & British perspectives emphasizing tactics.

 

[Brozosexual]

Croatia's friendly against Saudi Arabia starts in about an hour. Heavily mixed lineup, mostly reserves and those vying for the few open starting spots, along with Brozović who needs game time following his return from injury.

Big young talent Luka Sučić of RB Salzburg starts in the middle, together with Rennes' Lovro Majer.

[Floortom]

On 11/13/2022 at 6:17 PM, narduch said:

 

They just called in Anass Zaroury the Burnley winger to replace him. He switched his association from Belgium to Morocco. Good young player by all accounts.

[RJB]

Croatia beat Saudi Arabia today, 1-0 in Riyadh.  That means that the Unofficial World Championship will be in group F at the World Cup, and it increases the likelihood that Canada will have a World Championship match during the tournament!

https://www.ufwc.co.uk/ (so much fun)

[MM3/MM2/MM]

And we could be Champions!

[Aird25]

We may need a few players to be defensively astute (and this is just the PL)...

[Alex]

I’m 2003 we could have been champions but we lost 5-1 to the Czech Republic. I remember watching that game, we also played Ireland in that window.

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

10 hours ago, Aird25 said:

We may need a few players to be defensively astute (and this is just the PL)...

My big takeaway from that: in the Premier League, the bar is pretty low for passing from the left.

 

[scullion44]

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Edited November 17, 2022 by scullion44
Deleted

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

Morocco just beat Georgia 3-0 in a friendly.  Pretty strong lineup with most of the regulars starting or coming on at half.  Would love to have Aguerd, their centre half from what I have seen of him so far. 

[Califax]

Espn has US AND Morocco going through. 

Could you fucking imagine?

 

https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/insider/story/_/id/35034039/world-cup-2022-predicting-every-game-again

Canada vs. Morocco (Group F): What did I say earlier? When a draw suits both parties, don't be surprised when both parties end in a draw. Morocco tops the group, and Canada and Belgium finish tied on points, on goal differential, and on goals scored. The next tiebreaker? Head-to-head, and so the second- and third-place finishers from 2018 both get dumped out before the round of 16.

Result: Canada 1-1 Morocco

[red card]

A couple more Group F podcast previews. One from the flagship Football Weekly from the Guardian.

Then we have from Athletic UK's Totally Football Show where they'll cover the "hipster clásico of Canada v Belgium, the best midfield in the tournament and the best full-back pairing in the tournament."

 

 

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

1 minute ago, red card said:

A couple more Group F podcast previews. One from the flagship Football Weekly from the Guardian.

Then we have from Athletic UK's Totally Football Show where they'll cover the "hipster clásico of Canada v Belgium, the best midfield in the tournament and the best full-back pairing in the tournament."

 

 

The Guardian has a bit of nerve still taking about migrant workers after the decieving numbers they put out on the subject last year. 

[TGAA_Star]

ESPN FC I was just watching the crew of Stevie Nicol, Dan Thomas, Shaka Hislop, Craig Burley, Don Hutchison, Ale Moreno, etc and seeing their brackets none of them have Canada going through. Gab Marcotti and Jules Laurens they don't even have Canada going through. The only person who even seems to think so is Frank LaBeouf. But that is the beauty of being underestimated or the beauty of being an underdog because it makes it all the more sweeter when you prove the naysayers wrong. Here is hoping Canada can pull it off. 🙏🏽