SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 16 hrs 56 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

World Cup Group F permutations: Who needs what to qualify for the last 16?

:Headline: World Cup Group F permutations: Who needs what to qualify for the last 16? :
Ahead of the final matchday in World Cup Group F, Sports Mole looks at what Belgium, Croatia, Morocco and Canada need to qualify for the last 16.
Sports Mole

A competitive Group F comes to an end on Thursday as all four teams play their final group-stage matches of the World Cup at 3pm GMT.

Three teams in the section still have hopes of reaching the knockout stages, with the early exit of 2018's third-placed side Belgium a distinct possibility after some shocking results in the opening two matchdays.

Croatia and Morocco lead the way in Group F with four points, the Red Devils are in third with three points whilst Canada sit bottom of the group and are already out of the competition having failed to collect any points so far.

Here, Sports Mole looks at what each team needs to qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup.



CROATIA

Croatia's chances of progressing into the last 16 looked in real danger when Alphonso Davies headed Canada into an early lead against the 2018 runners-up, but a clinical and convincing display from that point on from the Vatreni led to a 4-1 victory and means they are now in control of their own World Cup fate.

A win or a draw against Belgium at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium would see Croatia advance to the last 16, with either three or one point potentially enough to see Zlatko Dalic's side secure top spot in the group

Three points would guarantee top spot for Croatia if Morocco fail to beat Canada, whereas a draw could see the Croatians finish first if Morocco also draw in their matchup against The Reds.

Defeat for Croatia would leave them relying on eliminated Canada to beat Morocco, in which case the Vatreni and the Atlas Lions would need to be separated by goal difference to determine which side finishes in second place.



MOROCCO

Morocco are arguably in the best position to qualify out of the group on Thursday considering they are level on points with group leaders Croatia and face a Canada side who are already knocked out of the tournament.

If Walid Regragui can guide his Morocco side to either a win or a draw against Canada, the Atlas Lions will qualify for the last 16 for only the second time in the nation's history.

Should Morocco lose to The Reds at the Al Thumama Stadium, the North Africans would need to hope Belgium defeat Croatia and that their goal difference ends up superior to that of Dalic's side, with Croatia boasting a one-goal advantage in that metric going into these final set of matches.

Regargui's men would secure a first-placed finish in Group F if they beat Canada and Croatia fail to beat Belgium, a combination of results that would set up a last-16 tie with the runners-up of Group E for Morocco.



BELGIUM

Belgium's golden generation is beginning to lose its shine and require a positive result in their final game of Group F to book a place in the knockout stages that many predicted them to achieve at a canter.

The Red Devils will qualify for the last 16 with a win against Croatia, whereas a loss would see them heading home with this World Cup not even a fortnight old.

A draw for Roberto Martinez's side could be enough for a top-two position in the group if Morocco lose to Canada - although the Atlas Lions currently have a three-goal advantage in the goal-difference measure that would be used to determine who progresses in that eventuality.

There is a way Belgium can still end up first in Group F, with a Belgian win coupled with Morocco failing to beat the Canadians sufficient for Martinez's men to finish top of the pile.



CANADA



Despite showing glimpses of real attacking ability against both Belgium and Croatia, Canada are unable to qualify for the last 16 after losing their two opening games of this group-stage campaign.

Bayern Munich's Davies scored The Reds' first-ever World Cup goal in the early stages against Dalic's Croatians, and John Herdman will be looking to guide his team to a maiden victory on football's biggest stage when they face Morocco on Thursday.

Although Herdman's men are unable to progress to the knockout stages, a win in their final game of this World Cup could see them finish above European giants Belgium if the Red Devils lost to Croatia and a three-goal margin in goal difference was overturned in the process.

With qualification for the 2026 World Cup already secured due to Canada co-hosting the tournament, ending this year's competition with an unexpected win against the North Africans could really help build the excitement in a nation that has only participated at this level on one previous occasion.


body check tags ::

amp_article__500928 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2022-12-01 10:16:43:
html db last update - 2022-12-01 10:16:43 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
MC
Read Next:
Morocco boss Regragui wary of Canada quality
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Zlatko Dalic Alphonso Davies Walid Regragui Roberto Martinez John Herdman Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Morocco boss Regragui wary of Canada quality
Harry Houdini: Wilson's late wizardry helps Fulham snatch victory from Brentford
Preview: Liverpool vs. B. Leverkusen - prediction, team news, lineups
Killer Kolo: PSG forward scores twice as 10-man France beat Belgium

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Red Star vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PR

Hoping for the best: Chelsea star Palmer 'to undergo scan' on knee injury

2

HF

''It's been very tough' - Amorim opens up on taking Man United job

3

'B

Is Haaland injured? Guardiola reveals all ahead of Sporting clash

4

IH

Mainoo, Maguire return dates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. PAOK

5

MM

Preview: Brugge vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PB

De Jong, Kounde to return? Predicted Barcelona lineup vs. Red Star

7

DJ

Preview: One Day International Series: West Indies vs. England - prediction, team news, series so far

8

PO

Team News: Liverpool vs. B. Leverkusen injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

9

TN

Preview: Coventry vs. Derby - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PC


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .