Germany, Spain, Belgium and 2018 finalists Croatia get their campaigns under way on day four of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Belgium‘s “Golden Generation” will begin their final shot at World Cup glory against Canada on Wednesday, but do so without talismanic forward Romelu Lukaku, who has been central to their success in recent years.
The Group F game at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan is a tricky opener for Roberto Martinez’s side against opponents appearing at a first global finals for 36 years who will be fired up to spring a surprise.
World Cup fixtures – November 23
- Morocco vs Croatia – Group F, kick-off 10am
- Germany vs Japan – Group E, kick-off 1pm
- Spain vs Costa Rica – Group R, kick-off 4pm
- Belgium vs Canada– Group F, kick-off 7pm
Herdman: I get out of bed to upset teams
Canada arrive in Qatar as the designated underdog – a role coach John Herdman knows all too well having played the part his entire career.
At the 1986 World Cup Canada failed to score a single goal and there are some betting that the 500/1 longshots, who are grouped with the second ranked Belgium, 2018 finalists Croatia and Morocco, might not find the back of the net again in Qatar.
But then few would have bet on the boy from the hard streets of Consett in England’s industrial north east finding his way onto football’s most glamorous stage.
Herdman has plenty of respect for the challenge ahead but is itching for the fight.
“I think for the first time in a long time I have come to the place where I wanted to be as a coach and I know my players this is the moment they want to be in as well,” said Herdman.
“They feel we can genuinely get in and have a right fight with these teams and be that team that overachieved and find our X-factor.
“To upset some teams, I get out of bed for that.”
Musiala takes English advice into World Cup
Jamal Musiala excelled vs England in the Nations League
Germany‘s teenage sensation Jamal Musiala has credited his England youth period for helping him develop his creative game that has quickly turned him into one of the rising stars of the sport.
The 19-year-old, following a stellar season start with Bayern Munich where he scored nine goals and delivered six assists so far, is expected to be Germany’s conductor in attack, operating between central midfield and the front line.
His pace, passing, creative play and scoring ability have quickly drawn comparisons with other big names, with former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus drawing parallels to Argentina great Lionel Messi.
“I think a comparison with Messi is something like an honour,” Musiala told a news conference. “He plays at a top level for so long and to be compared with him is a bit difficult. I just focus on me and what I can do better as Jamal and keep going.”
Musiala will have a chance to show it on the biggest stage when the Germans kick off their Group E campaign against Japan.
They also play Spain and Costa Rica and are eager to make amends for their 2018 shock first-round exit.
“We have the quality to go far in this tournament,” Musiala said. “We all go in with the mindset that we can win the title. We are well prepared and raring to go.”
Pressure off unfancied Croatia
Croatia’s Luka Modric was a runner-up in 2018
Croatia have won their last five matches and lost once in 16 months, but the 2018 runners-up, led by midfield conjuror Luka Modric, will begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco with little fanfare and few predicting glory.
So unfancied are Zlatko Dalic’s side, who went all the way before succumbing to France in the final four years ago, that bookmakers are offering 50-1 against them lifting the trophy this time around.
That is longer odds than Denmark and in the same ball park as Serbia, which is probably how they like it.
“It is going to be hard. But also it is good that we maybe don’t have so much pressure because we did amazing things in Russia. But we still wish and we still want to achieve more,” forward Andrej Kramaric said.
Team news
Leroy Sane has been ruled out of the Japan game
Germany winger Leroy Sane has suffered a knee injury and will miss their World Cup Group E opener against Japan.
The 26-year-old did not take part in their final training session in northern Qatar ahead of Wednesday’s game in Doha and it was unclear how long he would be sidelined.
Four-times champions Germany, who suffered a shock first-round exit at the 2018 World Cup, also had striker Niclas Fullkrug out for a few days with the flu but he has since returned to training.
Lukaku, who is set to miss Belgium‘s first two games at least, is not the only player potentially out of the game against Canada. Right-back Thomas Meunier trained on his own on Sunday having seemingly recovered from a broken cheekbone last week.
Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out by Belgium
Jan Vertonghen appears to have overcome injury and got 20 minutes against Egypt. A big question for Martinez is how to use in-form forward Lois Openda, who made his international debut in June and has been an impressive addition to the squad and an alternative to Michy Batshuayi.
For Canada, Herdman confirmed first choice goalkeeper Milan Borjan and midfielder Stephen Eustaquio were over nagging injuries.
With Maxime Crepeau already ruled out with a broken leg suffered in the MLS Cup final, Canada was facing a crisis in goal if Borjan, who has been bothered by an abdomen niggle, was unable to play leaving Herdman to choose from inexperienced backups in Dayne St. Clair and the uncapped James Pantemis.
For Croatia, Luka Modric, the player of the tournament in 2018, has one last shot at glory at the age of 37, and will line up against Morocco probably part of an impressive midfield trio alongside Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea.
Brozovic has shaken off a muscle tear and played 70 minutes against the Saudis, allaying fears about his involvement at the tournament.
Opta stats: Canada end 36-year World Cup wait
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith and Nick Wright analyse some of their favourite stars to keep an eye out for during the World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Their one to watch for day four is German teenage sensation Youssoufa Moukoko.
- Germany and Japan are meeting for the first time at the FIFA World Cup. Germany are unbeaten in their two previous encounters with Japan (W1 D1), both friendly internationals in 2004 (3-0) and 2006 (2-2). All seven goals in their two previous encounters were scored in the second half.
- Japan have won only one of their last eight matches at the FIFA World Cup (D3 L4), it came in their opening match against Colombia in 2018 (2-1).
- This is the first encounter between Morocco and Croatia at the FIFA World Cup. Their only previous meeting was in the Hassan II Trophy in December 1996, played in Casablanca. The game ended 2-2, producing three red cards. Croatia won 7-6 on penalties.
- Croatia have won their two FIFA World Cup games against African opposition by an aggregate of 6-0 (4-0 v Cameroon in 2014, 2-0 v Nigeria in 2018).
- Since losing their final group game in 1994 (0-1 vs Saudi Arabia), Belgium are unbeaten in all 12 of their group stage games at the FIFA World Cup. They’ve won each of their last seven group matches in the competition, with only Brazil ever winning eight consecutive World Cup group games (twice, from 1986-1994 and 2002-2010).
- Canada’s appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup marks 36 years since their last participation, in 1986. It’s the second longest gap between appearances in the finals tournament among teams taking part in this year’s showpiece, after Wales’ 64 years.
Elsewhere at the World Cup – A battle of the generations
Spain train ahead of their World Cup opener
The young Spain players at the heart of coach Luis Enrique’s new-look side make their global debut when they face the experienced veterans of Costa Rica in their Qatar World Cup opening match.
With captain Sergio Busquets the lone survivor of the Spain team that won the 2010 tournament in South Africa under then coach Vicente del Bosque, Luis Enrique has blooded a new generation of players in preparation for Qatar.
Three years into the restructuring of the national side after dismal showings in Brazil in 2014 and Russia in 2018, there are signs that the former Barcelona and Real Madrid star is building something that will be a force for years to come.
Barcelona midfielders Pedri, 19, Gavi, 18, plus their Catalan club team-mate Ferran Torres, 22, are three of the young faces in the fresh-faced Spain side.
Luis Enrique – who led the Reds to the semi-finals of the Euros last year where they were eliminated by Italy on penalties – has picked 14 players aged 25 or under, and the average age of the squad is the third youngest among the 32 teams in Qatar.
For Costa Rica, playing in their sixth World Cup, the picture is almost the complete opposite.
Six of their squad members were part of the 2014 campaign, when Costa Rica qualified from a ‘Group of Death’ at the expense of Italy and England, and they are all now aged 30 or over, including striker Bryan Ruiz who is 37.
Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suarez’s team are known for their solidity – they conceded only eight goals in qualifying – and for their ability to counter-attack, potentially posing a threat to Spain’s 33-year-old defender Cesar Azpilicueta if he starts.
But the age of some of Costa Rica’s core players will pose challenges beyond the physical demands of the game. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas has not played a competitive game for his club Paris St Germain in five months after losing his place to Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Essential Football: World Cup podcast
Listen to episode two of the Essential Football World Cup podcast as we discuss who will start in England’s opening game against Iran and Gareth Bale’s fitness for Wales.