World Cup Group F guide: Red Devils favourites to finish top
Published:
World Cup Group F guide and odds
The 2022 World Cup is under way and Ladbrokes are producing guides on all eight groups to put you in the picture for the tournament.
You can read all the latest on England and Wales as we provide odds and features on the two nations and also have the latest World Cup winner odds.
Our World Cup Group F guide covers Belgium, Croatia, Morocco and Canada as we take a look at all four nations, the dark horses, players to watch and a prediction on where they will finish in the group.
Belgium are 8/11 favourites to reach the knockout stage as group winners but let’s look at their prospects and those of their rivals.
Belgium
The Red Devils have reached at least the quarter-finals in their last four major tournaments and are among the favourites to win the tournament, but the cracks in this golden generation are starting to show and the feeling remains they missed their chance four years ago when they beat favourites Brazil only to lose to France in the semis.
Belgium were also expected to perform well at last year’s European Championship when they won all three group games and beat Portugal in the round of 16, but lost an enthralling encounter with eventual champions Italy in the last eight.
However, Belgium’s ageing defence was given the runaround in a 4-1 home defeat by the Netherlands in the Nations League and they lost the return to miss out on the finals.
Roberto Martinez has major concerns surrounding injury-hit striker Romelu Lukaku who has barely played for Inter Milan this season, but midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been in sensational form for Manchester City and is the heartbeat of this side.
Head coach: Former Everton manager Martinez is leading Belgium at his third major finals.
Players to watch: De Bruyne is the obvious candidate and Eden Hazard is fit again, but will Lukaku spearhead the attack? Former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi has led the line in Belgium’s last five matches and could be the main man up front if Lukaku fails to recover.
Fixtures:
Canada: Nov 23, 19.00, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, BBC
Morocco: Nov 27, 13.00, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, BBC
Croatia: Dec 1, 15.00, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, BBC
Verdict: Should not have too many problems getting out of the group, but either Spain or Germany await in the round of 16.
Prediction: Second in the group and a round of 16 exit at the hands of Spain
Croatia
Expectations are high that Croatia can produce another stunning performance at the World Cup to follow their run to the final four years ago having topped their qualifying group a point clear of Russia.
The Croatians had failed to make it to the knockout stage in their previous three World Cup appearances before heading to Russia where they won all three group games against Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland, before penalty shoot-out victories against Denmark and Russia ensured a semi-final encounter with England which they won in extra time.
They were outplayed by France in the final, but their recent record has been encouraging, losing an eight-goal thriller to Spain in the round of 16 at Euro 2020 and finishing top of a Nations League group comprising world champions France, Denmark and Austria.
This is likely to be the last World Cup for the evergreen Luka Modric who is set to take his place at the heart of a talented midfield, although question marks over their strikers remain.
Head coach: Zlatko Dalic has lost just one of his last 15 matches in charge and his side took four points off France in the Nations League, so they are clearly a dangerous team.
Players to watch: Real Madrid star Luka Modric is still pulling the strings for club and country at the age of 37 and is the stand-out player. Inter Milan’s defensive midfielder Marcelo Brozovic picked up an injury against Austria but has made three substitute appearances this month and should be fit.
Fixtures:
Morocco: Nov 23, 10.00, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, ITV
Canada: Nov 27, 16.00, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, BBC
Belgium: Dec 1, 15.00, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, BBC
Verdict: The Croats are expected to safely negotiate a group also comprising Morocco and Canada, but either Spain or Germany await in the round of 16.
Prediction: Group winners
Morocco
The Atlas Lions seem to be in a better place than they were at the start of the year when Hakim Ziyech retired from international football after being left out of the Africa Cup of Nations squad by coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who was sacked three months before the start of the tournament.
The Chelsea winger performed a U-turn once Halilhodzic was given his marching orders and was in the starting line-up for the recent friendlies against Chile and Paraguay.
Morocco won all six group games and then hammered DR Congo 4-1 in the second leg to make it back-to-back World Cup appearances and only Algeria scored more than them in qualifying.
They have only once reached the knockout stage in five editions of the World Cup, in 1986 when they topped England’s group only to lose to West Germany in the round of 16.
Head coach: Former Toulouse, Racing Santander and Dijon defender Walid Regragui was the assistant manager to Rachid Taoussi between 2012-13, but was handed the top job at the end of August having won the African Champions League with Moroccan club Wydad.
Players to watch: Ziyech provides the attacking threat from the wing and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi is one of the best right-backs in the world.
Fixtures:
Croatia: Nov 23, 10.00, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, ITV
Belgium: Nov 27, 13.00, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, BBC
Canada: Dec 1, 15.00, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, BBC
World Cup group qualifying odds: 2/1
Verdict: Limited success at the World Cup finals suggests they will struggle to get out of the group against two nations inside the top 12 in the FIFA world rankings.
Prediction: Third in the group
Canada
Les Rouges are making their first appearance at the World Cup in 36 years after surprisingly finishing top of their CONCACAF qualifying group.
The Canadians were unbeaten in the first 11 games during which they beat Mexico and the United States at home and were without Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies for the last six qualifiers, so their run to Qatar has been impressive unlike their only appearance at the World Cup in 1986.
Then, they lost all three group games against France, Hungary and the Soviet Union without scoring a goal, so they will be keen to improve on that performance, especially as they are co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and the USA.
English coach John Herdman guided Canada up 32 places to 40th in the FIFA world rankings in 2021 and his team were named most improved side of the year.
Head coach: The 47-year-old from Consett, County Durham, has coached both the New Zealand and Canada women’s teams, but is now making waves with the men’s side.
Players to watch: Davies will bring pace, skill and crosses from the left wing for the likes of US-born striker Jonathan David, who has scored regularly in his three seasons with Ligue 1 side Lille. Davies missed Bayern’s last two Bundesliga matches after sustaining a hamstring injury against Hertha Berlin earlier this month, but is expected to start against Belgium.
Fixtures:
Belgium: Nov 23, 19.00, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, BBC
Croatia: Nov 27, 16.00, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, BBC
Morocco: Dec 1, 15.00, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, BBC
World Cup group qualifying odds: 9/4
Verdict: Their first two games are against Belgium and Croatia, so they could be out of the running by the time they face Morocco, but they could prove competitive.
Prediction: Fourth
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
