World Cup Group F: The Red Devils to march into the knockout stages

World Cup Qatar 2022 begins on the 20th November and here at BettingOdds.com we will have unrivalled coverage of this huge sporting occasion including team/group previews, match betting prediction and props, bet-builders, and ante-post markets. Here we preview Group F...

Team Profiles:

Belgium

To qualify: 1/9

To win Group F: 1/2

To win World Cup: 16/1

World Cup appearances: 14

Best performance: Third place (2018)

Head Coach: Roberto Martinez

Star player: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

Golden Boot favourite: Romelu Lukaku: (Inter Milan(on loan from Chelsea) - 68 Int. goals - 18/1

Our verdict: Belgium are the nearly men of international football, having never won a major tournament in their history despite possessing some ridiculously talented footballers. They are FIFA ranked number two in the world, having been surpassed by Brazil recently and lived up to that moniker with a third-place finish at Russia 2018. However, a disappointing quarter-final exit at the hands of eventual winners Italy, saw the initial tournament favourites fail again. This golden generation of Belgian footballers will be seen as perennial underachievers if they don't pick up some silverware and soon.

They have what looks like an easyish group here to qualify in relative comfort. One thing is for sure, If Kevin de Bruyne grabs this tournament by the scruff of the neck as he can do, they will be extremely difficult to stop. 

Croatia

To qualify: 4/7

To win Group F: 3/1

To win World Cup: 66/1

World Cup appearances: 6

Best performance: Runners-up (2018)

Head Coach: Zlatko Dalić

Star player: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Golden Boot favourite: Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim) - 19 Int. goals - 125/1

Our verdict: Croatia always seem to be the dark horse of world football. They have an aging squad with no clear and obvious goal-scoring threat yet the side always seems to compete at these big competitions and it's only four years ago that they were one step away from ultimate glory. This will likely be Luka Modric's last bow at a major tournament so he'll be wanting to go out in style. 

Morocco

To qualify: 9/4

To win Group F: 12/1

To win World Cup: 299/1

World Cup appearances: 6

Best performance: Round of 16 (1986)

Head Coach: Vahid Halilhodžić

Star player: Achraf Hakimi (Paris SG)

Golden Boot favourite: Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla) - 14 Int. goals - 125/1

Our verdict: Morocco absolutely sailed through the African World Cup qualification, topping Group I and winning every game along the way. They then faced a two-legged play off final against DR Congo and won 5-2 on aggregate. The Atlas Lions have only made it past the group stage on one occasion and will be hoping to repeat that feat in Qatar but it looks a tough ask. They were knocked out of the AFCON at the Quarter Final stage and are far from the best team in Africa right now. I wouldn't be surprised if they finished bottom of this tough-looking group. 

Canada

To qualify: 11/4

To win Group F: 12/1

To win World Cup: 299/1

World Cup appearances: 2

Best performance: Group Stage (1986)

Head Coach: John Herdman

Star player: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)

Golden Boot favourite: Jonathan David (Lille) - 20 Int. goals - 125/1

Our verdict: Canada has probably won their own World Cup already by topping the CONCACAF group above regional powerhouses Mexico and USA. A phenomenal achievement that has been led by English Head Coach John Herdman. They also possess some decent quality in the likes of Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, and Cyle Larin. This looks an extremely difficult group to qualify from but I wouldn't be surprised to see more shocks from the Canadians. 

BettingOdds.com Group F Prediction:

1. Belgium

2. Croatia

3. Canada

4. Morocco