World Cup 2022: Belgium Must Improve to Beat the Atlas Lions

Belgium vs Morocco

World Cup 2022 Group F takes centre stage at the Thumana Stadium on Sunday when Belgium meet Morocco, looking for a second win of the campaign.

This is a tough game for the Red Devils. Morocco come into the match on the back of a 0-0 draw with Croatia while Belgium laboured to a 1-0 victory over Canada, and the Atlas Lions have plenty of experience in competition football.

Belgium are ranked second in the world by FIFA, but the latest World Cup 2022 betting odds rate the Red Devils as eighth and doubtful to make the quarter finals. And that is a sorry state for the Golden Generation of Belgium to be in, but they were far from convincing against Les Rouges, and they will need to improve to beat Morocco.

Talking Points

Lacklustre Belgium edge past Canada

Roberto Martinez has a lot of work to do to get the Red Devils to where they need to be, and Belgium fans are not the most patient bunch. The side came under a lot of criticism after they narrowly beat Canada and they need a lift. They may get one in the form of star striker Romelu Lukaku who has not been training with the squad, but the 29 year old Inter Milan man is hopeful of making the last game of the group stage, against Croatia, though the meeting with Morocco will come too soon.  

The absence of Lukaku was painfully evident against Canada and though Michy Batshuayi scored the vital goal he missed another good chance and looked badly off the pace at times. Kevin De Bruyne put in some dangerous and incisive balls but without an end result and he will be keen to see Lukaku back in the fold. De Bruyne has been in sensational form for Manchester City but he hasn’t always been at his best for Belgium on the biggest stages and that’s what he will want to rectify this time.

It could have been worse for the Red Devils as they were saved from going a goal down by their keeper Thibaut Courtois, who kept out an Alphonso Davies penalty early in the game, and Martinez made two substitutions at the break. He brought on Amadou Onana and Thomas Meunier to place Yannick Carrasco and Youri Tielemens but the second half wasn’t much better: “It was a difficult game,” said Martinez, “Canada were better than us in what we wanted to do. They have a lot of pace and directness and we had to show another side to our play.”     

Morocco will be tough to break down

Belgium will need to show more sharpness in front of goal to break down Walid Regragiu’s Morocco who showed how hard they are to beat against a highly rated and experienced Croatia. There were just two attempts on target each in a match played in serious heat at the Al Bayt Stadium; and the result meant that the Atlas Lions have lost just twice in 41 games across the last three years. 

Morocco had chances to beat Croatia, the best opportunity falling to Sevilla’s Youssef En- Nesyri who should have converted a cross from Hakim Ziyech. The Chelsea winger is Morocco’s most creative player and dead ball specialist, with 18 goals from 44 games, but this is a team full of quality, captained by Besiktas centre back Romain Saiss who sits alongside West Ham centre back Nayef Aguerd, and with PSG wingback Achraf Hakimi sound in defence and dangerous in attack. 

One player who could make his debut for Morocco is 22 year old Burnley winger Annas Zaroury. He was called up to the Moroccan squad after an injury to Amine Harit and the young Claret made a quick decision to join the Atlas Lions, having represented Belgium at U17, U18 and U21 levels. 

History

Belgium and Morocco have met twice before and won once each, the Atlas Lions coming out on top on the last occasion, with a 4-1 friendly win in 2008. 

In terms of recent form, with four wins and two draws from the last six games, Morocco have been on a better run than the Red Devils who have won three, drawn one and lost two. A win for the Atlas Lions would not be the biggest World Cup 2022 news of the week that’s for sure.

Betting Tip

Belgium are at SBOTOP odds of 2.03 to win this game and the Draw is at 3.20 with Morocco at 3.75. This clash will be as tight as the openers in the group, but both teams have goals in them and I believe they will manage two or three in a hard fought game.

 

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