On Thursday, December 1, two participants in the 1/8 finals of the World Cup from group F were determined.
World Cup 2022. Group F. 3rd round
December 1 (Thursday)
Croatia - Belgium - 0:0
Canada - Morocco - 1:2
Goals: Agerd (40, own goal) - Ziyesh (4), En-Nesiri (23).
Many experts noted that the current World Cup is the last chance for the “golden generation” of the Belgian national team (by the way, the second team in the world according to FIFA) to get some kind of tangible trophy. Perhaps, the increased pressure had a negative impact on the Red Devils, who failed to beat Croatia in the decisive match of the group stage and, having taken third place, ingloriously ended their performance in Qatar.
And the Belgian mentor Roberto Martinez after the match announced that he was leaving his post - and such a decision, according to him, was made even before the start of the World Cup. “I made this decision on the eve of the start of the World Cup. I believe that projects should be long-term. After the 2018 World Cup, I had many opportunities to accept invitations from clubs, but I was loyal to the Belgian national team. I’m not retiring, my contract is ending. Yes it was originally planned“, - said the specialist, talking with media representatives at the post-match press conference.
The Moroccan national team unexpectedly approached the final round as a leader, having not conceded a single goal in previous matches with Croatia and Belgium. The Africans predictably beat an unmotivated Canada, scoring twice in the first half. True, it was not without a small fly in the ointment - the Moroccans nevertheless missed for the first time at the current World Cup, and their own defender Agerd tried, but the joy of the second in history and the first since 1986 to reach the playoffs of the World Cup probably did not become less.
The final position of the teams: 1. Morocco - 7 points (goal difference - 4:1); 2. Croatia - 5 (4:1); 3. Belgium - 4 (1:2); 4. Canada - 0 (2:7).
Morocco will play in the round of 16 on 6 December against the second-placed team in Group E, while Croatia will face the winner of this quartet the day before for a place in the quarter-finals.
Recall that four more pairs of the 1/8 finals of the 2022 World Cup formed: the Netherlands - the USA, Argentina - Australia (December 3), England - Senegal, France - Poland (December 4).
Earlier reported that Argentina defeated Poland and “took” Lewandowski’s team with them to the playoffs.
Photo fifa.com
Source: Fakty
