(Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

World Cup Group F Matchday 1 Odds: Match Previews

The World Cup is here and we at TVSportguide are here to bring you the scoop! We will break down the first games and give you our picks from the World Cup Group F matchday 1 odds.

Group F consists of:

• Belgium
• Croatia
• Canada
• Morocco

The clear favourites to qualify from this group are Belgium and Croatia who are 1/10 and ⅖ to qualify respectively. This isn’t to say that Canada and Morocco can be written off, these two sides both have prospects to qualify and will be giving it their absolute all to do so.

The 888sport odds of these two sides to qualify are quite lucrative. Canada is 3/1 and Morocco is 2/1. Their squads aren’t nearly as filled with quality as the favourites on paper, but football isn’t played on a piece of paper; anything can and will happen.

So without further ado, let’s crack on and take you through the matchday 1 odds in Group F.

Morocco vs Croatia

• When? Wednesday 23rd November, 10:00 GMT
• Where? Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar
• Latest Result: 2-2 December 1996
• Broadcast: ITV

Morocco faces Croatia in what is going to be some very intense World Cup action. The sides haven’t met since 1996 in what was a 2-2 draw. It’s not the only game in this World Cup that we’ve waited more than two decades to see.

Morocco’s best World Cup performance came back in 1986 when they became the first African team to top their World Cup group. Could they repeat this? With the teams they have to face, stranger things have certainly happened.

Morocco have some decent players in their ranks, Yassine Bounou is Sevilla’s number one and will play between the sticks for his country. Achraf Hakimi has had an excellent career so far and is a stalwart in a very impressive Paris Saint Germain side. He will play in defence alongside West Ham United’s Nayef Aguerd who was a doubt through injury.

Going forward they have some great talents, Morocco are known for their skilful players and they have a plethora of options to choose from in this department:

• Hakim Ziyech
• Sofian Boufal
• Illias Chair
• Amine Harit

Croatia will have their work cut out stopping them; but they have an excellent squad of their own. Back in 2018 they reached the final in their best World Cup performance. They beat England on the way but couldn’t get past France in the final.

Croatia’s squad is jam packed with quality, but the midfield will likely be the driving factor of their advances. Marcelo Brozovic will be anchoring a creative pairing of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic, which is a scary sight. Despite his age, Modric is still one of the best midfielders in the world.

Morocco vs Croatia pick

For this one we can see it being a tougher game than some might think; but it will still be Croatia who take the cake. We suggest using the 888sport scorecast to produce some great matchday 1 odds.

Belgium vs Canada

• When? Wednesday 23rd November, 19:00 GMT
• Where? Al Rayyan Stadium, Qatar
• Broadcast: BBC One

Belgium have seemingly passed their peak, they had a golden generation of talent but have slightly dropped off. This isn’t to say they don’t have a fantastic squad still, because they do.

They have one of the world’s best players in Kevin de Bruyne in midfield. He has been excellent as usual for Manchester City and will continue this form into the World Cup. He has a great connection with Romelu Lukaku who will lead the line and be the main source of goals for the Red Devils.

They also have brothers Thorgan and Eden Hazard who will provide the flair aspect in this team. Eden has dropped off massively since the last World Cup and has fallen behind the pecking order at Real Madrid but he still is capable of putting on a show.

One of the brothers will be tasked with being the opposite number of one of Canada’s greatest players, Alphonso Davies. The left back has been one of the reasons that Canada have been able to qualify for their second World Cup in history. He has pace, an excellent crossing ability and is great defensively.

He will be looking to provide passes for LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David, who is another classy Canadian capable of changing a game.

Belgium vs Canada Pick

This game won’t be easy for either side, but one simply has more quality than the other and that is Belgium. They will be too much for Canada and will run out 3-1 winners. The match day 1 odds of this are 10/1!

Author: Jude Sutcliffe