World Cup 2022, Day 4: The schedule, key players, what to expect

What's in retailer for Morocco vs Croatia, Germany vs Japan, Spain vs Costa Rica, and Belgium vs Canada in Qatar?

Saudi Arabia's Salem al-Dawsari celebrates with a flip after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup group C football match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's Salem al-Dawsari celebrates after scoring his aspect's second purpose in the course of the World Cup match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia on the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Ricardo Mazalan/AP Photo]

4 video games are scheduled on day 4 — Wednesday, November 23 — of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The Schedule:

Morocco vs Croatia (Group F): 1pm (10:00 GMT), Al Bayt Stadium

Germany vs Japan (Group E): 4pm (13:00 GMT), Khalifa Worldwide Stadium

Spain vs Costa Rica (Group E): 7pm (16:00 GMT), Al Thumama Stadium

Belgium vs Canada (Group F): 10pm (19:00 GMT), Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

What to anticipate:

Morocco vs Croatia

  • Croatia are getting into this World Cup 2022 event in glorious form, having just lately come out tops of their UEFA Nations League group, which included France, Denmark and Austria, and following a run of victories towards all three sides within the European competitors.

Croatia's Ivan Perisic celebrates scoring a goal in the Croatia vs Scotland game in 2021.
Croatia’s Ivan Perisic celebrates scoring their third purpose within the Croatia vs Scotland sport at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, in June 2021 [File: Paul Ellis/pool/Reuters]

  • Nonetheless, Jordan’s coach Adnan Hamad mentioned that Morocco may very well be the crew to look at on the World Cup because the North African crew was able to nice surprises.

Morocco fans waving a large flag in front of the World Cup countdown clock in Doha, Qatar.
Morocco followers on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 countdown clock on the Corniche in Doha, Qatar [File: Hamad Mohammed/Reuters]

  • “The Moroccan crew is taken into account the very best Arab crew taking part in within the Qatar World Cup. It has 20 skilled gamers from main European leagues. Within the qualifiers, it handed with flying colors and has a serious probability of progressing from the group,” Hamad informed Al Jazeera in a latest interview.

Gamers to look at:

  • Morocco’s celebrity right-back Achraf Hakimi is one to look at based mostly on his consistency for the nationwide crew and his membership performances with Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. Hakimi’s prices down the flanks and pinpoint crosses might be key for assaults by Morocco’s strikers.

Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Selim Amallah chat on the pitch during training at Al Duhail Stadium, in Doha, Qatar.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (proper) and Selim Amallah (left) throughout coaching at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, in Doha, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]

  • Luka Modric is taken into account vital to Croatia’s hopes of success within the event. Captaining the aspect and engineering its attacking play from central midfield, the 37-year-old is vastly admired and was awarded the celebrated Ballon d’Or in 2018, the best particular person accolade within the sport.

Croatia's Luka Modric
Croatia’s Luka Modric [File: Antonio Bronic/Reuters]

Germany vs Japan

  • Germany should not among the many outright favourites to win the World Cup 2022 this time round, however, as it's mentioned, the German aspect can by no means be discounted.
  • Although thought of to be in a tough group, which incorporates Costa Rica, Japan and Spain, the Germans are anticipated to progress to the spherical of 16 and perhaps even attain the semi-finals.
  • Japan tends to exceed expectations.
  • On the 2018 World Cup, the Japanese aspect superior to the spherical of 16, regardless of being positioned in a bunch with robust opponents corresponding to Poland, Senegal and Colombia.
  • The Japan aspect have a number of gamers in European leagues and their World Cup 2022 squad is alleged to be pretty much as good because it has ever been in the case of technical qualities.

 

Japan's Ao Tanaka juggles the ball with his feet while smiling during training.
Japan’s Ao Tanaka throughout coaching at Al Sadd SC New Coaching Services 1, in Doha, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]

Gamers to look at:

  • Daichi Kamada is an attacking midfielder by commerce who is alleged to be the engine of the Japanese crew and can arguably be their most essential participant within the World Cup.
  • He's additionally mentioned to have a successful mentality, having helped Eintracht Frankfurt win the Europa League in Could 2022.
  • Germany have a stable lineup with the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala in midfield, whereas the entrance line with forwards Mario Gotze, Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry are all mentioned to be able to placing away objectives.

Germany in training at Al Shamal Stadium in Qatar.
Germany in coaching at Al Shamal Stadium, Al Shamal, Qatar on November 21, 2022 [Annegret Hilse/Reuters]

 

Spain vs Costa Rica

  • Spain might not be absolutely the favourites to win in Qatar, however they're more likely to be tough to beat.
  • Spain have competed at each World Cup since 1978. Solely 5 groups have higher total look information — Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy and Mexico.
  • Qatar 2022 marks the Spanish aspect’s sixteenth look because the inaugural competitors came about in Uruguay in 1930.

 

Spain's Jordi Alba and Eric Garcia during training at Qatar University Training Site 1, Doha, Qatar.
Spain’s Jordi Alba and Eric Garcia throughout coaching at Qatar College Coaching Website 1, Doha, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Albert Gea/Reuters]

  • Costa Rica, or “Los Ticos”, have had a formidable run on the World Cup event since making their debut in 1990.
  • The Central American crew’s greatest end was on the 2014 World Cup once they reached the quarter-finals, solely to be knocked out in penalties by the Netherlands.
  • Nonetheless, Los Ticos could discover it difficult to make it previous the group stage. They're positioned in Group E, the so-called group of demise, together with former champions Spain and Germany, and Asian powerhouse Japan.

Costa Rica celebrating after defeating New Zealand in June at Al Rayyan Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
Costa Rica at Al Rayyan Stadium in Doha, Qatar, in June 2022 [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Gamers to look at:

  • Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell, a ahead with 118 video games and 25 objectives to his identify, is more likely to lead the assault together with 22-year-old rising star Anthony Contreras. Captain Bryan Ruiz and Los Ticos’s most capped participant Celso Borges will run the present from the midfield.
  • Costa Rica boast a robust defence with the likes of Juan Pablo Vargas and Oscar Duarte. Keylor Navas was essential in making certain his aspect’s qualification for the event when he stored New Zealand at bay in the course of the playoff.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group E - Switzerland vs Costa Rica - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - June 27, 2018 Switzerland's Michael Lang in action with Costa Rica's Joel Campbell REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell airborne over Switzerland’s Michael Lang in the course of the 2018 World Cup in Russia [File: Murad Sezer/Reuters]

  • Regardless of Qatar being his first World Cup marketing campaign, Spanish hopes will seemingly relaxation on Pedro González López, higher often known as Pedri, who turns 20 in November.
  • Described as one among world soccer’s most promising children, the diminutive central midfielder has already established his talents on the worldwide stage and attracted critical acclaim consequently.

Pedri celebrates scoring his team's first goal.
Pedri celebrates after his nationwide league crew FC Barcelona rating towards Celta Vigo in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2022 [Albert Gea/Reuters]

  • As Al Jazeera’s David Childs writes, with seven wins and two attracts of their final 10 video games, Spain is beginning the World Cup on a assured footing.

Belgium vs Canada

  • Canada has participated in just one different World Cup, the 1986 event in Mexico, and the crew is predicted to battle to make it out of a tough beginning group that features Croatia and Belgium.
  • But, the crew performed a robust qualifying marketing campaign that has raised expectations that the Canadians could have a trick or two up their sleeves and a few surprises.

The Canadian team during training at Umm Salal SC Training Facilities in Umm Salal, Qatar.
The Canadian crew throughout coaching at Umm Salal SC Coaching Services in Umm Salal, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]

  • For instance, of their qualifying group, they received eight of 14 video games and delivered shock wins over the USA and Mexico.
  • 4 years in the past, the Belgian crew wowed followers with memorable victories over Japan and Brazil, which despatched them into the semis and in the end to complete third total — their best-ever lead to a World Cup marketing campaign.
  • However there are doubts in regards to the Belgian aspect this time round.
  • Their World Cup 2022 group goes to be difficult for Belgium as they face off towards Canada, the African powerhouse Morocco, and Croatia — runners-up within the final World Cup.
  • Can they repeat the heroics of their final World Cup look is the query?

Gamers to look at:

  • All eyes might be on Canada’s Alphonso Davies, 22, when the whistle blows on their World Cup marketing campaign.
  • Enjoying left wing-back for Germany’s Bayern Munich, Davies is understood for his pace, dribbling and taking pictures. He's considered among the many most interesting gamers within the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Affiliation Soccer (CONCACAF) grouping of nations.

 

Canada's Alphonso Davies in action with Bayern Munich in Munich, Germany.
Canada’s Alphonso Davies in motion with Bayern Munich in Munich, Germany, in Could 2022 [File: Heiko Becker/Reuters]

  • Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne are anticipated to hold the burden of reaching success within the event for Belgium, whereas Charles De Ketelaere is the younger gun to look at.

 

Belgium's Thibaut Courtois during training at the Salwa Training Site, Abu Samra, Qatar.
Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois throughout coaching on the Salwa Coaching Website, Abu Samra, Qatar on November 22, 2022 [John Sibley/Reuters]

Go Deeper:

  • View the complete 2022 World Cup schedule right here and make sure to go to Al Jazeera’s AI match predictor to see how your crew is projected to carry out in Qatar.

 

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