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Al Jazeera

World Cup 2022, Day 4: The schedule, key players, what to expect

Saudi Arabia's Salem al-Dawsari celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Ricardo Mazalan/AP Photo]

Four games are scheduled on day four — Wednesday, November 23 — of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The Schedule:

Morocco vs Croatia (Group F): 1pm (10:00 GMT), Al Bayt Stadium

Germany vs Japan (Group E): 4pm (13:00 GMT), Khalifa International Stadium

Spain vs Costa Rica (Group E): 7pm (16:00 GMT), Al Thumama Stadium

Belgium vs Canada (Group F): 10pm (19:00 GMT), Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

What to expect:

Morocco vs Croatia

  • Croatia are entering this World Cup 2022 tournament in excellent shape, having recently come out tops in their UEFA Nations League group, which included France, Denmark and Austria, and following a run of victories against all three sides in the European competition.
Croatia’s Ivan Perisic celebrates scoring their third goal in the Croatia vs Scotland game at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, in June 2021 [File: Paul Ellis/pool/Reuters]
  • However, Jordan’s coach Adnan Hamad said that Morocco could be the team to watch at the World Cup as the North African team was capable of great surprises.
Morocco fans at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 countdown clock on the Corniche in Doha, Qatar [File: Hamad Mohammed/Reuters]
  • “The Moroccan team is considered the best Arab team playing in the Qatar World Cup. It has 20 professional players from major European leagues. In the qualifiers, it passed with flying colours and has a major chance of progressing from the group,” Hamad told Al Jazeera in a recent interview.

Players to watch:

  • Morocco’s superstar right-back Achraf Hakimi is one to watch based on his consistency for the national team and his club performances with Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. Hakimi’s charges down the flanks and pinpoint crosses will be key for attacks by Morocco’s strikers.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (right) and Selim Amallah (left) during training at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, in Doha, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]
  • Luka Modric is considered critical to Croatia’s hopes of success in the tournament. Captaining the side and engineering its attacking play from central midfield, the 37-year-old is hugely admired and was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 2018, the highest individual accolade in the sport.
Croatia’s Luka Modric [File: Antonio Bronic/Reuters]

Germany vs Japan

  • Germany are not among the outright favourites to win the World Cup 2022 this time around, but, as it is said, the German side can never be discounted.
  • Though considered to be in a tricky group, which includes Costa Rica, Japan and Spain, the Germans are expected to progress to the round of 16 and maybe even reach the semi-finals.
  • Japan tends to exceed expectations.
  • At the 2018 World Cup, the Japanese side advanced to the round of 16, despite being placed in a group with tough opponents such as Poland, Senegal and Colombia.
  • The Japan side have several players in European leagues and their World Cup 2022 squad is said to be as good as it has ever been when it comes to technical qualities.

 

Japan’s Ao Tanaka during training at Al Sadd SC New Training Facilities 1, in Doha, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]

Players to watch:

  • Daichi Kamada is an attacking midfielder by trade who is said to be the engine of the Japanese team and will arguably be their most important player in the World Cup.
  • He is also said to have a winning mentality, having helped Eintracht Frankfurt win the Europa League in May 2022.
  • Germany have a solid lineup with the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala in midfield, while the front line with forwards Mario Gotze, Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry are all said to be capable of putting away goals.
Germany in training at Al Shamal Stadium, Al Shamal, Qatar on November 21, 2022 [Annegret Hilse/Reuters]

 

Spain vs Costa Rica

  • Spain may not be the absolute favourites to win in Qatar, but they are likely to be difficult to beat.
  • Spain have competed at every World Cup since 1978. Only five teams have better overall appearance records — Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy and Mexico.
  • Qatar 2022 marks the Spanish side’s 16th appearance since the inaugural competition took place in Uruguay in 1930.

 

Spain’s Jordi Alba and Eric Garcia during training at Qatar University Training Site 1, Doha, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Albert Gea/Reuters]
  • Costa Rica, or “Los Ticos”, have had an impressive run at the World Cup tournament since making their debut in 1990.
  • The Central American team’s best finish was at the 2014 World Cup when they reached the quarter-finals, only to be knocked out in penalties by the Netherlands.
  • However, Los Ticos may find it challenging to make it past the group stage. They are placed in Group E, the so-called group of death, along with former champions Spain and Germany, and Asian powerhouse Japan.
Costa Rica at Al Rayyan Stadium in Doha, Qatar, in June 2022 [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Players to watch:

  • Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell, a forward with 118 games and 25 goals to his name, is likely to lead the attack along with 22-year-old rising star Anthony Contreras. Captain Bryan Ruiz and Los Ticos’s most capped player Celso Borges will run the show from the midfield.
  • Costa Rica boast a strong defence with the likes of Juan Pablo Vargas and Oscar Duarte. Keylor Navas was crucial in ensuring his side’s qualification for the tournament when he kept New Zealand at bay during the playoff.
Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell airborne over Switzerland’s Michael Lang during the 2018 World Cup in Russia [File: Murad Sezer/Reuters]
  • Despite Qatar being his first World Cup campaign, Spanish hopes will likely rest on Pedro González López, better known as Pedri, who turns 20 in November.
  • Described as one of world football’s most promising youngsters, the diminutive central midfielder has already established his abilities on the international stage and attracted serious acclaim as a result.
Pedri celebrates after his national league team FC Barcelona score against Celta Vigo in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2022 [Albert Gea/Reuters]
  • As Al Jazeera’s David Childs writes, with seven wins and two draws in their last 10 games, Spain is starting the World Cup on a confident footing.

Belgium vs Canada

  • Canada has participated in only one other World Cup, the 1986 tournament in Mexico, and the team is expected to struggle to make it out of a difficult starting group that includes Croatia and Belgium.
  • Yet, the team played a strong qualifying campaign that has raised expectations that the Canadians may have a trick or two up their sleeves and some surprises.
The Canadian team during training at Umm Salal SC Training Facilities in Umm Salal, Qatar, on November 22, 2022 [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]
  • For example, in their qualifying group, they won eight of 14 games and delivered surprise wins over the United States and Mexico.
  • Four years ago, the Belgian team wowed fans with memorable victories over Japan and Brazil, which sent them into the semis and ultimately to finish third overall — their best-ever result in a World Cup campaign.
  • But there are doubts about the Belgian side this time around.
  • Their World Cup 2022 group is going to be challenging for Belgium as they face off against Canada, the African powerhouse Morocco, and Croatia — runners-up in the last World Cup.
  • Can they repeat the heroics of their last World Cup appearance is the question?

Players to watch:

  • All eyes will be on Canada’s Alphonso Davies, 22, when the whistle blows on their World Cup campaign.
  • Playing left wing-back for Germany’s Bayern Munich, Davies is known for his speed, dribbling and shooting. He is regarded as among the finest players in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) grouping of countries.

 

Canada’s Alphonso Davies in action with Bayern Munich in Munich, Germany, in May 2022 [File: Heiko Becker/Reuters]
  • Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne are expected to carry the burden of achieving success in the tournament for Belgium, while Charles De Ketelaere is the young gun to watch.

 

Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois during training at the Salwa Training Site, Abu Samra, Qatar on November 22, 2022 [John Sibley/Reuters]

Go Deeper:

  • View the full 2022 World Cup schedule here and be sure to visit Al Jazeera’s AI match predictor to see how your team is projected to perform in Qatar.

 

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