Day 8: Japan vs Costa Rica | Belgium vs Morocco | Croatia vs Canada | Spain vs Germany

Martinez getting shown up. Absolutely horrific team, bereft of any ideas and barely troubled the Moroccan keeper.

Looked at times like they were attempting a protest on the pitch, that's how and they played. De Bruyne looked like Lee Cattermole!
 
Given the amount of bald people on the touch line,It would have been funny if a Morrocan player went jumping in celebration with Martinez by mistake.
 
ManUtd1999 said:
Fair enough.

Belgium looked toothless going forward. In 2018, they showed more heart and energy. Today, they had no ideas, especially in the second half.
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2018 was their prime.

People are viewing this team as if it's the same players still at the top of their game when in reality only KDB is the same player he was in 18.
 
Not sure what people expected from Belgium. I certainly didn't expect much more than this. They are still somehow starting Alderweireld and Vertonghen. In 2022. I wasn't even sure if they were still playing professional football. But I know someone who definitely hasn't for quite some time - Eden Hazard, Belgium captain. If he is still starting, then the situation must be dire over there.
 
Canada's pace and energy displayed against Belgium is a concern, but I'm optimistic and confident we'll put 2 or 3 past them. I can see them scoring as well though.
 
ManUtd1999 said:
Fair enough.

Belgium looked toothless going forward. In 2018, they showed more heart and energy. Today, they had no ideas, especially in the second half.
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They had nothing in that second half. The lack of energy/legs is also startling. It just looks like the players don't work hard enough or want to work for it.

The standings for that group is interesting. Morocco on 4 points, leading the group. The Croatia/Canada game is huge for them. If that finishes in a draw, then it's a huge chance for Morocco to go through. Looks like a very close and tough group.
 
Very deserved for Morocco, they also played really in Russia and were unlucky not to get better results.
 
Martinez saying there was nothing wrong with the defensive setup for their first goal, because that’s how they’ve been setting things up for 6 years.

As if that isn’t exactly the problem.
 
Superunknown said:
Morocco absolutely deserve respect and they've played very well to win this game. Massive performance from them, particularly that second half, and they showed great attacking intent. Worked very hard for that win.

At the same time, Belgium have massively underperformed...again. They've started slow, tried to bumble their way through, and haven't changed things for the better when they can see that things are not working. They never looked like scoring, when they absolutely have to perform in games like this.

All of that can be true.
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Belgium's players aren't good. Seriously, aside from KDB all these players are old and way past their best. People see player names and act like they are still good when in reality they haven't been for years. The last 2 World Cups were their chance and they blew it. The new players coming through aren't anywhere near the same level. Trossard is their best somewhat young player (if 27 is considered young) and even he is nowhere near the level of KDB or a younger Eden Hazard.
 
Hopefully Canada can at least get a draw. Makes the group very interesting going into the final round of games.
 
Superunknown said:
They had nothing in that second half. The lack of energy/legs is also startling. It just looks like the players don't work hard enough or want to work for it.

The standings for that group is interesting. Morocco on 4 points, leading the group. The Croatia/Canada game is huge for them. If that finishes in a draw, then it's a huge chance for Morocco to go through. Looks like a very close and tough group.
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All groups ended up being tough and close, including this one. No team so far has put two good back-to-back performances other than France (and that’s why it’s the only team who has guaranteed qualification). The lower-ranked teams are competing very hard, and those who lost badly in the first game (Iran, Australia and Costa Rica) managed to bounce back with a win. Typically, that’s not what we see at the WC.
 
antohan said:
Didn't see the game so it could be tactics and wrong players, but what is increasingly clear is the shockers happen in the early fixtures.

How bad/different is it to play during the day vs during the evening? Funny that France, Spain and Brazil (+Portugal and Netherlands) won't get to play under extreme heat. Maybe they look comfortable for more than one reason.

Of the group heads, only Argentina and England got the plum fixture and Belgium will get the next worst now. Will Morocco get something out of that?
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Called it
 
Superunknown said:
They had nothing in that second half. The lack of energy/legs is also startling. It just looks like the players don't work hard enough or want to work for it.

The standings for that group is interesting. Morocco on 4 points, leading the group. The Croatia/Canada game is huge for them. If that finishes in a draw, then it's a huge chance for Morocco to go through. Looks like a very close and tough group.
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Even if it finishes any other result, they only need a draw against Canada to go the next round...
 
Typical Belgium, no surprises with them always pedestrian boring football.

Belgium makes England look World Class
 
the_cliff said:
2018 was their prime.

People are viewing this team as if it's the same players still at the top of their game when in reality only KDB is the same player he was in 18.
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I agree. They are far from their 2018 prime. Not enough new names after 4.5 years.
 
RobinLFC said:
KDB once again worst player on the pitch apart from Witsel who looked like he won a fan contest to be there. Disgusting performance.

Well done Morocco even though they are also not a good team.
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I would definitely say Batshuayi and Meunier were worse, but yeah KDB was shite. A part of me is always going "put in even half the effort for us as you do for City you disloyal twat", but perhaps that's the United fan in me speaking. :lol:
 
Martinez should have left after 2018.
No real system, no effective pressing, old players that don't deserve to be selected.
This is a coach that had 6 years+ with this group and this is all he can muster with this team? Sack martinez, this Wilmots v2 - pissing away our best generation.
 
Dr. Dwayne said:
I think it's a big ask. We've never scored a goal or got a point at a World Cup. Croatia finished second in 2018.
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The old Croatian players are still good though, unlike the Belgian players. Perisic is probably a bit worse than 4 years ago but he's still pretty good. Don't think any of the other old players are past it yet. They've clearly looked after themselves. Modric at 37 is still one of the best players in the world. They also have one of the best young cbs in the world in Gvardiol. The only area they're lacking is up front. They never really replaced Mandzukic
 
the_cliff said:
There's no extreme heat mate, the stadiums all have air con and on pitch level max it gets to is 25 degrees celsius.
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You can observe a distinct difference in second half performances between the early fixtures and the late fixtures.
 
bloody hell...Croatia is old and it seems like they haven't added any new talent to that squad in years
 
Morocco easily look like the best team in this group.
 
Telsim said:
Not sure what people expected from Belgium. I certainly didn't expect much more than this. They are still somehow starting Alderweireld and Vertonghen. In 2022. I wasn't even sure if they were still playing professional football. But I know someone who definitely hasn't for quite some time - Eden Hazard, Belgium captain. If he is still starting, then the situation must be dire over there.
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I thought they would qualify along with Crotatia and both get knocked out in the R16. Must admit I thought their team had moved on more personnel wise.

That said very little known about Morroco or Canada.
 
Southpark always give the Canadians a Scottish accent..but the Canadian coach really does have a Scottish accent?
 
ManUtd1999 said:
I agree. They are far from their 2018 prime. Not enough new names after 4.5 years.
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It's becoming clear that this is a world cup for young teams. Players in their 30s are struggling, probably due to conditions. Belgium carried too many old players, Verthongen, Hazard,Alderwiweld all done. I fancy Canada to have a good cut at Croatia in the next game as well.
Curious to see Spain later on, young talented and technical, this could be their tournament.
 
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You could tell Belgium's players lost all hope as soon as Lukaku came on. He has all the speed and agility of a beached whale.
 
Chief123 said:
Belgium 2nd ranked team in the world. Shows how flawed the ranking system is.
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The Fifa rankings are absolute horse shit. They were number 1 team for 4 years straight. Based on what? Player reputatiton? Cause it clearly wasn't performance based
 
Morocco were much better than Belgium. The work rate of their players was excellent especially on the wings. They deserved the win!
 
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