Group F Opponent Watch (Belgium, Croatia, Morocco)

[Free kick]

Yes.  Sometimes, just because a coach is unpopular its doesnt mean that he/she (or their methods) isn't effective.   I too was hoping he gets fired.

[Bison44]

5 hours ago, Free kick said:

Yes.  Sometimes, just because a coach is unpopular its doesnt mean that he/she (or their methods) isn't effective.   I too was hoping he gets fired.

Boy you said a mouthful there.  

[Kent]

On 8/14/2022 at 3:34 AM, Unnamed Trialist said:

I actually think this is good for us. Their results were with Halilhodzic. 

They will get a new coach and have no time to adjust. Whoever goes in is going on someone else's legacy, and has to deal with that too.

Some argue they'll get players back, but that will also disrupt the group dynamic, which made  it to Qatar without those other prima donna stars. A few starters getting Morocco to the WC are now going to sit, apparently.

I would not be surprised to see a Morocco unprepared and chaotic, with too little time to make the transitions the new manager will want.

Since there is precedent for exactly this, I thought I'd look at the other teams Halilhodzic has qualified for the World Cup to see how they did.

2010 Ivory Coast - fired Halilhodzic and didn't make it out of the group.
2014 Algeria - retained Halilhodzic and made it to the round of 16.
2018 Japan - fired Halilhodzic and made it to the round of 16.

So 50/50 on making it out of the group with a new manager.

[Blondo]

 

[red card]

It's official. Morocco's new manager is Walid Regragui. First Moroccan to lead since 2016. All 5 CAF teams will be led by Africans for the first time.

Regragui was born in Paris and played as a defender for Toulouse, Ajaccio, Dijon and Grenoble as well as 45 caps with Morocco from 2001-09.

He was coach of FUS Rabat between 2014-2020 and briefly led Qatari club Al-Duhail.

He then led Wydad Casablanca to victory against Egypt’s Al-Ahly to win the African Champions League as well as clinching the Moroccan league title.

 

Edited September 1, 2022 by red card

[Blondo]

Quite a few young Belgian talents made moves this summer: Lavia (scoring against Chelsea added even more hype), CDK, Onana, Faes, Theate, Mangala, Openda, Zaroury, Vranckx, ... and Inter loaned out Vanheusden while Juve did the same for De Winter.

Done deals:

- Lukaku to Inter

- Witsel to Atletico Madrid

- Origi to Milan

- Openda to Lens

- Alderweireld to Antwerp

- Lavia to Southampton

- Mangala to Nottingham

- Onana to Everton

- CDK to Milan

- Vranckx loaned to Milan

- Zaroury to Burnley

- Theate to Rennes

- Faes to Leicester

- Boyata to Club Brugge

- Benteke to D.C. United

- Mertens to Galatasaray

- Januzaj to Sevilla

- Dendoncker to Aston Villa (edit; transfer is official now)

- Vertonghen to Anderlecht (edit)

- Batshuayi to Fenerbahçe (edit)

 

Vertonghen is currently in Brussels (might be an Anderlecht player soon; would be great as there's a lot of talent there he could help guide) and I'm expecting a few other deals to go through (Dendoncker to Aston Villa could be the next done deal => confirmed).

Edit: Denayer is a free agent and can still be signed even with the window now closed in the big leagues.

Edited September 2, 2022 by Blondo

[Blondo]

On 7/17/2022 at 4:29 AM, Blondo said:

- Lavia to Southampton (€14M initial fee with a buy-back clause of almost €50M or 20% sell-on clause); picked a good (development) club to get your first minutes of league football and it looks like they value his largely unproven talent. Would be a massive surprise if he gets into the squad for Qatar (even just bringing him for experience; doubt it but hopefully in future tournaments after he comes good).

Oddly Chelsea tabled a bid of €58M after Lavia has played only 5 games for Southampton. Bid was rejected even while Lavia is out injured for the next 4-8 weeks. Making the squad for Qatar was a longshot, despite Martinez claiming in a recent interview he and a few other uncapped talents he has worked with still had a shot, but with the injury I doubt Martinez will call him up (ruled out for the upcoming NL matches as well).

[red card]

Croatia's squad released for Nations League. Unique & very good team sheet graphics.

17 in top 5 leagues (53%). 6 outside of top 5. 9 domestic with 5 playing for a Champions League side.

 

[narduch]

Morocco have called 31 players for their 2 upcoming friendlies.

Chelsea's Ziyech is included. 

 

Edited September 12, 2022 by narduch

[ESG Shawn]

Morocco squad also includes Bayern defender Mazraoui, who also was out of the team recently for similar reasons to Ziyech

[narduch]

Belgium call in 30 players.

 

[narduch]

Qatar is going to face a domestic squad of Croatia before they play us.

 

 

[Blondo]

13 hours ago, narduch said:

Belgium call in 30 players.

A few injured absentees, especially up front with Origi and Lukaku. Doku asked to regain match fitness first with the U21s (if he's playing well by November he probably will squeeze into the final 26).

Denayer will only train with the team; won't play and won't go to Qatar if he doesn't find a club soon. Debast was a surprise inclusion and has yet to make his debut. Dendoncker has been very solid and will also be considered for the backline (Witsel is also an option).

Lavia most likely would have been called up if he didn't get injured (possibly Mangala and Foket too; both out inured as well); while Praet and Januzaj lack match rhythm.

Lukaku is one of the nailed-on starters; the battle for who'll be behind him in the pecking order is still on. Lukebakio returns to the team after a great start this season in the BuLi.

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

Upsets me currently and makes me worried for November how well Perišić is playing for Spurs.  Very nice set piece deliveries. 

[PegCityCam]

This kid just turned 37

 

[Brozosexual]

Disappointed that Dalić hasn't called up any of our younger strikers this time around but seems like Petković looks set to be our number 9 for the WC. Looking good this year with Dinamo in the CL. Still time, but doubt any of the young guys will get selected for WC debut from this point forward.

 

Thankfully, most of our squad seems to be more or less fit this time around. Erlić suffered some muscle injury, but other guys seem to be fine. Kovačić, Gvardiol and Majer had fitness issues after recovering from injuries, but same as Šutalo and Perišić they seem to be fine and picking up form.

 

Hopefully they secure the first spot in our Nations League group and don't disappoint.

Edited September 18, 2022 by Brozosexual

[narduch]

2 of our group opponents play today in Nations League.

Croatia v Denmark 

Belgium v Wales

Both at 245 pm ET on DAZN.

[Alex]

Morocco defeated Madagascar last yesterday 1-0 according to Elo. Other than that all I found is that Walid Cheddira scored the goal. 
 

[Gian-Luca]

 

[narduch]

 

[narduch]

 

[NotCanadian]

Denmark is playing with 3 centre backs and 4 central midfielders to shut us down. Gonna be a pretty boring game I think. Joachim Andersen is on right back just to shut down Perisic while Wass and Delaney are gonna hunt down Modric. Fun.

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

36 minutes ago, narduch said:

Not too far from a best available line-up. Interesting to see how Bale & co. deal with it. 

edit : I see Bale begins on the bench.

Edited September 22, 2022 by WestHamCanadianinOxford

[narduch]

I lol'ed at this one.

 

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

Belgium moving with speed through the midfield and up top, slicing Wales open.

Still there is some joy to be had on the flanks and over the top against Belgium.