The World Cup should already start in at least three places in the world. While the recent four-piece in the Nations League has caused more questions than answers for the Red Devils, our opponents in the group stage are completely satisfied. Branko Strupar (Croatia), Tomasz Radzinski (Canada) and Mo Messoudi (Morocco) outline the local atmosphere 5 months before the World Cup.
June 13, 2018: almost four years ago, the Red Devils traveled to Russia. There had been some criticism in the weeks before (particularly about the draw against Portugal), but optimism prevailed after smooth victories against Egypt and Costa Rica.
June 15, 2022: If the World Cup were not played in sweltering Qatar, it would start about now. Perhaps there is an advantage to the allocation to Qatar after all.
Because the atmosphere around the Red Devils is currently a bit like the Belgian weather in November, the month in which the World Cup in Qatar starts: changeable.
Every day you doubt what it will become. After the European Championship last summer, Belgium won 7 of its 13 matches, 9 times the zero could not be kept.
The Devils’ Departure to Russia in 2018.
To the rhythm of grandmaster Modric
What a world of difference with the atmosphere among our opponents at 5 months from the start of the World Cup.
Croatia did not do better than the Belgians in the Nations League with 7 out of 12 in recent days, but confidence did get a big boost thanks to a victory in Denmark and especially after the double confrontation with France – a replay of the World Cup final in Russia .
Croatia drew at home and won in the Stade de France (0-1). A huge mental boost. “That’s how it goes here in Croatia,” laughs ex-Red Devil Branko Strupar. “A good match against the world champion and we forgot the 0-3 defeat against Austria.”
“What also plays a role is that Luka Modric prevailed. He remains a genius. His presence on the field alone makes Croatia better. Everyone fears that he will stop after the World Cup, but that makes everyone hope that the team will pop again. “
Canada: nation on a cloud
In Canada everyone lives on a cloud anyway. In March, the country qualified for a world championship for the first time since 1986. “The atmosphere in and around the team is sublime,” says Tomasz Radzinski, who has 43 caps in the Canadian national team.
A lot has changed in Canada over the past four years. The appointment of national coach John Herdman has a lot to do with that. According to Radzinski, he brought about a change in mentality and pumped a winning mentality into the team.
“He won’t settle for 2-0 at half-time against a smaller country. He wants his team to go full in the second half for 4-0 or 5-0,” says Radzinski.
Canada is not happy that it is allowed to participate yet. It is a selection of fighters who want to survive the group stage.
“That and of course a talented group with Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and the experience of players like Atiba Hutchinton makes that the ambition is to advance to the knockout phase.”
“Canada is certainly not happy that it is already allowed to participate. It is a selection of fighters, who travel to Qatar to survive the group stage.”
Morocco will play home games in Qatar.
Morocco’s second World Cup in a row
The Moroccan fans had to wait 20 years for their country to be on the biggest football stage in Russia again. The fact that Morocco is now there for the second time in a row provides extra euphoria among the football-mad Moroccan fans.
Last Monday, Morocco won its second qualifying match for the next African Cup with 0-2 in Liberia. Together with the convincing qualification for the World Cup against Congo, this ensures that the narrow elimination in the Africa Cup (against later finalist Egypt) has been flushed through.
“Morocco is going to play home matches in Qatar”, Mo Messoudi predicts. “There are many Moroccans living in the Qatar and neighboring countries and those who can afford it will try to travel to Qatar from Morocco. Just look how many Moroccan fans were in the stadium during the practice match against the US.”
Open group, but Belgium intrinsically best
Do the opponents of the Red Devils in the group stage have nothing to worry about? Yes, but that doesn’t stop them from being ambitious. All countries in the group of the Belgians will take their chances.
A conflict between the players and the federation in Canada seems to have been resolved and Mo Messoudi thinks the stubborn Vahid Halilhodzic will still give in under pressure from the fans and the federation to settle his conflict with Hakim Ziyech at Morocco.
The three analysts agree on one thing: Belgium is intrinsically the best country in its World Cup group. Branko Strupar puts Croatia on the same level.
If everyone is fit, I will put the Red Devils one step higher than the rest.
What they still agree on: it will be exciting in group F. “It is really an open group, where a lot will also depend on the form of the moment and the fitness of crucial players,” says Mo Messoudi.
“If everyone is available, take a step higher in Belgium than Croatia and Morocco and Canada just below that.”
“Do I agree with Mo? Not at all”, is Radzinski firmly. “But let as many people as possible underestimate Canada. I agree that Belgium should win the group if everyone is in top shape.”
Five months is an eternity in football. Maybe the world will look completely different by then. For us Belgians, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
