Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia

[GrandOldTeam]

 

[Nymzee]

Morocco with the upset.

 

[barneygumble]

Morocco with the upset.

I fancy Croatia for the group myself. It’s the swan song for most of them.

 

[Nymzee]

I fancy Croatia for the group myself. It’s the swan song for most of them.

I think Belgium might have a whoopsie

 

[davek]

Walkover for 'Berto's men.

 

[barneygumble]

I think Belgium might have a whoopsie

Perennial under achievers, and that includes with Wilmots, not just Martinez.

Just feel there’s never enough chemistry, bit like with England in the 2000s, lots of talented individuals but never a team.

 

[Nymzee]

Perennial under achievers, and that includes with Wilmots, not just Martinez.

Just feel there’s never enough chemistry, bit like with England in the 2000s, lots of talented individuals but never a team.

I don't think they really have this anymore. Keeper, yes. Defence? Nah, the best are all too old and slow now. Midfield, KDB and a couple of others. Even up top is a bit flatter to deceive.

 

[Connor]

Two ageing sides, Croatia and Belgium but think the sum of Croatia's parts may see them top the group

KDB and Courtois are Belgium's last real world class players and you can't win a world cup with just those two

 

[MikeH72]

Last chance for Martinez to match the achievements of relegation specialist Gareth Southgate with Belgium’s greatest ever squad.

 

[barneygumble]

I don't think they really have this anymore. Keeper, yes. Defence? Nah, the best are all too old and slow now. Midfield, KDB and a couple of others. Even up top is a bit flatter to deceive.

I was more referring to previous tournaments. But they’ve still got lots of quality in there.

Doku, Courtois, Hazard’s still compliment really quite well.

But I just fancy Croatia a lot more, they’ve shown through recent tournaments that work ethic and understanding goes a long, long way in competitions.

 

[Nymzee]

I was more referring to previous tournaments. But they’ve still got lots of quality in there.

Doku, Courtois, Hazard’s still compliment really quite well.

But I just fancy Croatia a lot more, they’ve shown through recent tournaments that work ethic and understanding goes a long, long way in competitions.

I just think Croatia have the much better squad now. Just missing that proper striker now Mandzukic retired.

 

[Martin Alvito]

Last chance for Martinez to match the achievements of relegation specialist Gareth Southgate with Belgium’s greatest ever squad.

I just don't think they have enough. They feel like a side that gets through, then meekly capitulates in the knockouts. Can't see them hanging three on a side like Japan late on to advance these days.

 

[Billy Dean]

Croatia
Morocco
Canada
Belgium

 

[barneygumble]

I just think Croatia have the much better squad now. Just missing that proper striker now Mandzukic retired.

I hadn’t even realised he’d retired.

Does Kramaric lead the line then? Always thought he was alright him.

 

[Nymzee]

I hadn’t even realised he’d retired.

Does Kramaric lead the line then? Always thought he was alright him.

Not sure if he does, but he's not a proper striker. Good player though.