Excitement is certain today as teams in Group E and F lock horns in decisive final group games, with all but Canada still has the chance to reach the next round.
There have been shocking results in these two groups and today, we might be treated to further and it won’t be any surprising as we’ve witnessed quite much in Qatar, and just yesterday, Denmark were sent packing by Australia, and even defending Champions, France fell to Tunisia.
Australia booked a place in the next round, which will surely be motivation for the underdogs in other groups.
GROUP F
Coming first will be group F games with Morocco taking on already relegated Canada while two European heavyweights in Belgium and Croatia also do battle.
North African, Morocco have a glorious chance to finish as Group winner with a win in today’s fixture as they are on four points already, a win will take them seven points, with Croatia and Belgium predicted to be a evenly contested affair.
The biggest winner could end up being Morocco if a draw is the result or Morocco enjoyed a bigger win against the toothless Canada side, to better the goal difference over Croatia should the Zlatko Dalic’s side emerge winner against Belgium.
A big evening awaits Morocco, who can still reach the next round with a loss if Croatia beat Belgium or Belgium beat Croatia by telling margin.
CANADA are only playing for the culture this time as their campaign ended in the wake of their 4-1 loss to Croatia in their second match, making it two losses in as many games.
They might however be looking a leave with a statement and that would be causing a damage to the cause of Morocco.
CROATIA have been better than Belgium in this tournament and it will be very unexpected should they not be able to seal qualification from their position today.
It is most likely that one of them and Belgium will reach the next round and it will be better if the Zlatko Dalic’s side can get a result from the match, just to prevent Belgium from winning today.
Four points for them and a draw will mean they finish one ahead of Belgium, and then they will learn the result of the other group game to know if a point is enough to finish as Group winner.
BELGIUM have been unbelievably poor in this tournament, the same tournament their golden generation have been previously tipped to finally have a chance to deliver something worthwhile.
However, they now face the prospect of the worse that could have been imagined, Group elimination. How on earth did Belgium find themselves in this position ?
Very lucky in their first game against Canada but fans would want to believe it was their day off. But in their second game against Morocco, they were worse.
2-0 loss in that one now leaves them literally needing only a win against Croatia to reach the next round and evidence from what has been witnessed so far in Qatar, it’s better they start packing.
Nonetheless, when you look at the players they’ve got in the ranks, you can’t help but think they can get things right again.
Having to do that against Croatia however, doesn’t make it at all easy.
GROUP E
SPAIN have looked decent so far in Qatar and have technically sealed qualification but still, nothing is certain.
A loss in today’s meeting with Japan can only get them eliminated if Costa Rica beat Germany or the German wins the match by 8 goals to nothing.
Two possible but realistically farfetched results, which makes Spain odds on to reach the next round in Qatar.
JAPAN let themselves down after allowing Costa Rica score with their only shot on goal, which the Asian side got nothing for their dominance in the game.
They face their toughest test yet in Spain, a game they must prevent a loss to stand any chance of qualification. It is never going to be easy, given it is a match of importance for Luis Enrique as well, but having beaten Germany from behind in their opening game, the tenacity showed in that game could be too much for even Spain if repeated today.
The Japanese will be required to play at that level again if they are to take anything away from today’s match.
GERMANY need to win 8-0 not to worry if Spain loses but any other result apart from a loss for the Spanish team then a 2-0 win over Costa Rica will be enough to book next round spot.
Hansi Flick’s side have much to do to improve their performance in this tournament because they have had nothing to show, other than their late surge to earn a draw against Spain.
Having suffered elimination from the group stages over four years ago in Russia, the pressure is on for this set of player to prevent a déjà vu, else Germany reach their lowest in the history of the FIFA World Cup.
COSTA RICA are one lucky team to still be in contention for a place in the next round having been unconvincing after two games, but good for them, there’s three points to show for those.
8-0 loss to Spain means only a win against Germany will see them progress if the other game ends ends in a draw.
However, they can still be assured of a round of 16 place for only the third time in the Nations history have reached the stage in 1990 and 2014 if Spain beat Japan, which shouldn’t be farfetched.
A win or draw against Germany won’t come easy but it is not impossible because that will be their goal to reach a place in Qatar.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
