Belgium vs Morocco – 27/11/2022
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Belgium defeated Canada 1-0 to open the World Cup in a very un-Belgium-like fashion. The Red Devils’ usual silky football went out the door with route one being their way to victory.
Roberto Martinez’s team weathered a storm from Canada and had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to thank for an early penalty save. Canada created plenty of chances but Courtois was up to the challenge.
We take the lead in our group! ? #BELCAN #DEVILTIME pic.twitter.com/7dpme5KmK2
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) November 23, 2022
On Sunday, Morocco will play Belgium at the Al Thumama Stadium. Morocco picked up a nil-nil draw against Croatia in their first match. The game was considered by some pundits as the most boring of the World Cup thus far.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup has not seen a lot of goals. Ten of the opening 16 games finished with both teams not scoring goals. Four matches ended with nil-nil scores.
Belgium and Morocco should be much different as the second round of group-stage games have the potential to be higher scoring.
Teams now know what they must do to qualify for the knockout stages. Matchday No 1 in each group may have influenced teams to play more conservatively. Now, teams may need to open up and score goals to have any chance of progression.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui could be without left winger Ez Abde as the Osasuna player has a muscle injury. Right-back Noussair Mazraoui could also miss the game following an injury against Croatia.
The Moroccan squad shouldn’t be overlooked. The Atlas Lions have some top players competing for big teams in Europe including Hakim Ziech, Bono, and Youssef En-Nesyri.
Regragui will play a 4-3-3 attacking formation against Belgium. He wants the pacy wingers to attack the Belgian full-backs.
Martinez will use a 3-4-2-1 formation against Morocco. Eden Hazard started against Canada but could be used off the bench. Hazard played the most minutes of a match in months for Belgium in the opening game.
Kevin De Bruyne started as an attacking midfielder alongside Hazard, with Michy Batshuayi as the lone striker. Batshuayi got Belgium’s only goal of the game versus Canada.
Sunday’s Group F game should see far more goals than either of both teams’ previous games. Belgium should once again come out on top as they find a way to defeat the Atlas Lions.
Belgium and Morocco played three times previously, with Belgium winning twice. The Red Devils should post a 2-1 win in Group F to seal progression to the next stage.
