Croatia Manager: Zlatko Dalic (since October 2017) Captain: Luka Modric Qualifying record: P10 W7 D2 L1 GF21 GA4 2018 World Cup: Final Average age of squad in qualifying: 28 years 3 months Most caps in squad: Luka Modric (154) Top scorer in squad: Ivan Perisic (32) How they play (tactics and formations)The beaten finalists in 2018 are likely to look similar to last summer’s European Championship. They may not be as tactically complex as some sides but they will enter Qatar in better form than most teams.
Their 37 chance-creating crosses in World Cup qualifying was the most of any European side. This continues to build on their success four years ago, where they attempted 141 crosses and completed 20, the most at the tournament. The graphic below visualises their crosses in qualifying. It is notable how balanced they are at creating from both sides but also have the ability to create chances from both higher and lower positions on either flank. Most of their shot-ending crosses are dropped centrally into the second six-yard box — the space between the penalty spot and the actual six-yard box — rather than whipping crosses in closer to goal.
Belgium end the attack with five players around the box, which is typical of this side, particularly with the No 10s and wing-backs flooding the penalty area with late runs — just look at Meunier’s underlap above. One thing they largely guarantee is goals. They have scored in all but two of their competitive games under Martinez since he was appointed in August 2016 — against France in the 2018 World Cup semi-final and in the Nations League this September against Netherlands. Between his first game on September 1, 2016 and their win against Portugal at the Euros in June 27, 2021, Belgium had the most wins (47) and goals scored (175) of any European nation. The yardstick for Belgium’s international success is strange and appears to be very different from within the country compared to outside it.
Croatia topped their Nations League group, winning their final four games to reach the semi-finals next summer. Croatia's 2022 Nations League games Croatia are a team that like to control possession and play expansively with an organised structure, though they have attacking, athletic full-backs on both sides who will push forward and contribute in the final third. The coach Dalic almost exclusively sets them up in a 4-3-3 and they are most threatening from wide areas. This shape can be seen in the build-up to their goal against Austria, with their full-backs (black dots) positioned wide to stretch the play. Left-winger Ivan Perisic crosses to the back post where right-back Josip Stanisic and No 9 Marko Livaja are making runs — and the latter scores.
13 xG) in third round qualifying were the most of any player. Canada regularly score from this pattern, getting in-behind defences down the left and playing cutbacks into high-quality scoring zones close to goal. Jonathan David’s attacking versatility personifies the Herdman approach. He is slightly more streaky for country than his club Lille, but can operate as a lone No 9, in a partnership with Larin, or in the No 10 role if Canada are to play a 4-2-3-1. One thing to watch out forAtiba Hutchinson. The 39-year-old is set to become the oldest World Cup debutant ever, overtaking David James in 2010 (39 years, 322 days in England v Algeria). The central midfielder, who has played for Besiktas since 2013, is the most capped player in Canadian history (97) and if he appears in all the group games he will become the first to reach a century.
Canada were CONCACAF top scorers and also boasted the best defence (seven goals against), thus having the best goal difference (+16) and winning the round robin stage (third round qualifying). Belgium (3-4-2-1) and Croatia (4-3-3) are expected to set up in markedly different shapes but both dominate possession, which provides a variety of problems for Herdman to solve. What’s their weakness? It would be easy to underline the collective lack of World Cup experience, but there is such little pressure on Canada to succeed that this is less significant than perhaps expected.
Key player(s)A strong core has enabled Belgium to consistently compete at the top end of international football — goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is arguably in his prime, Axel Witsel glues the side together, De Bruyne creates an abundance of chances and Lukaku scores goals. The No 9 finished as the country’s top scorer at Euro 2020 (four) and topped the charts in qualifying too (five) despite only playing 46 per cent of possible minutes. He is the top Belgian scorer under Martinez, who he played for at Everton, netting 51 goals in 51 appearances, and his 11 goals at Euros and World Cups since 2014 is only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo (13). He boasts an unrivalled ability to pin a centre-back and receive passes back to goal, either setting passes in the late running No 10s or spinning to shoot.
We move onto Group F, which contains 2018’s beaten finalists Croatia, Belgium and a golden generation taking a last crack at greatness, a Canada team at their first World Cup since 1986 and a Morocco team that welcome Hakim Ziyech back into the fold. You can read Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D and Group E here, and groups G and H will be published later this week…Belgium Manager: Roberto Martinez Captain: Eden Hazard Qualifying record: P8 W6 D2 L0 GF25 GA6 2018 World Cup: Semi-finals (third place) Average age of squad in qualifying: 29 years 1 month Most caps in squad: Jan Vertonghen (141) Top scorer in squad: Romelu Lukaku (68) How they play (tactics and formations)The 3-4-2-1 formation has been a staple of Belgium under Martinez.
Their opening goal against Scotland at Euro 2020 is evidence of this, with right-back Josip Juranovic crossing for left-winger Perisic, who heads it down for Nikola Vlasic to fire in. Similarly, their late equaliser against Spain, where Mislav Orsic’s inswinging cross meets Mario Pasalic’s run. Note for the goals how many bodies Croatia have in the final third and pushing into the box, often the opposite winger and full-back, plus central midfielders, are crashing in.
Morocco vs Croatia live score - AiScore
Morocco - World Cup: Football Scores & Highlights - 23/11/2022
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