4 video games are scheduled on day eight — Sunday, November 27 — of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The Schedule:
Japan vs Costa Rica (Group E): 1pm (10:00 GMT), Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
Belgium vs Morocco (Group F): 4pm (13:00 GMT), Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor
Croatia vs Canada (Group F): 7pm (16:00 GMT), Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, Al Rayyan
Spain vs Germany (Group E): 10pm (19:00 GMT), Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
What to anticipate:
Japan vs Costa Rica
Japan and Costa Rica have acknowledged {that a} win is essential forward of their second match on the World Cup on Sunday.
Japan are second in Group E with three factors, behind leaders Spain on objective distinction.
The Asian giants now face bottom-placed Costa Rica, with a victory assuring them of a spot within the knockouts if Germany fail to win in opposition to Spain.
Japan’s supervisor Hajime Moriyasu has inspired his gamers to rapidly “overlook” their opening win in opposition to Germany and give attention to Sunday’s Group E encounter with Costa Rica.
Their victory over Germany on Wednesday was probably the most stunning outcomes from the primary spherical of group-stage video games, with Japan upsetting the four-time World Cup winners 2-1.
Whereas Moriyasu repeated his view on Saturday that the match was a “historic victory” for Japan, he insisted now was not the time for reminiscing.
Japan are hoping to advance to the Spherical of 16 for the fourth time in seven appearances within the World Cup. Their best-ever end was ninth in each 2002 and 2010.
Costa Rica, in the meantime, want to regroup after Spain handed them a crushing 7-0 defeat of their opener and so they face an uphill — although not mathematically unattainable — battle to advance to the Spherical of 16.
Former Arsenal ahead Joel Campbell stated: “So long as we now have the chance to progress we might want to go away all the things on the pitch.”
“It gained’t be straightforward after all, however we’re very excited as a result of we are able to nonetheless progress to the subsequent section and we have to struggle for that. We’ll deliver our A-game tomorrow.”
Costa Rica coach Luis Suarez stated his workforce is not going to repeat the identical errors as with Spain in opposition to Japan.
”Everybody learns from their errors, however you must be robust to maintain on going,” Suarez stated.
Belgium vs Morocco
Morocco had been in good spirits as they skilled forward of assembly Group F leaders Belgium on Sunday, following their match the place they held Croatia to a impasse of their opening World Cup sport.
Belgium, alternatively, secured an underwhelming 1-0 win in opposition to Canada of their first group sport, and Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has warned that the Belgians ought to anticipate a stern take a look at on the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Sunday.
The match can have added spice as various gamers within the Morocco squad had been both born in Belgium or play their membership soccer there.
Damage has been a difficulty, nonetheless. Noussair Mazraoui and Achraf Hakimi sustained accidents within the Croatia sport, ruling Mazraoui out of Sunday’s match, whereas Hakimi joined Saturday coaching and should characteristic in Regragui’s lineup.
Following the underwhelming 1-0 win over Canada, the Belgian workforce had been again on the coaching pitch on Saturday. Supervisor Roberto Martinez will anticipate an unlimited enchancment from his gamers, who had been lucky to beat Canada courtesy of a medical end from Michy Batshuayi.
Martinez was unable to name upon highly effective ahead Romelu Lukaku, who missed the Canada sport attributable to a thigh damage. Though Lukaku is again in coaching, Martinez has confirmed that he may not be prepared to begin on Sunday.
If Belgium beat Morocco, they are going to grow to be the primary workforce in World Cup historical past to win 9 consecutive group video games. Belgium are unbeaten in all 4 of their World Cup conferences with African groups.
Croatia vs Canada
Canada skilled in Umm Salal on Saturday, the eve of their pivotal World Cup Group F match in opposition to Croatia. Canada head coach John Herdman described his squad as “mild, brilliant and clear, able to go” into what successfully is a ‘must-win’ sport for the Canucks.
They at present lie on the backside of the standings after the slim 1-0 defeat to Belgium of their opening fixture on Wednesday.
The sport will even mark Canada skipper Atiba Hutchinson’s one centesimal look for his nation.
Croatia drew their opener in opposition to Morocco 0-0, and Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalia has known as on his workforce to undertake a extra aggressive angle, be extra energetic and lift the tempo once they face Canada on Sunday.
Following their tame goalless draw with Morocco on Wednesday, Croatia had been criticised for his or her lacklustre efficiency, however Dalia stated on Saturday that he’s assured the ‘actual face’ of the workforce will come to the fore in opposition to the Canadians.
“We’re Croatia, let’s face it,” Dalia stated. “If we simply play our sport, we can have a optimistic efficiency, a optimistic consequence.”
Spain vs Germany
Germany and Spain had been in coaching on Saturday forward of their Sunday showdown, with the Germans going through a second consecutive World Cup first-round exit ought to they lose to the Spanish.
Since Germany’s shock 2-1 defeat to Japan on Wednesday, coach Hansi Flick has been working additional time to select his gamers up off the ground after the opener loss.
Flick’s workforce have now gained simply two of their final 9 internationals throughout all competitions and they’ll now search to keep away from shedding successive group-stage video games at a World Cup match for the primary time.
However they’re up in opposition to a robust Spanish facet enjoying with actual freedom, as exemplified by Spain’s 7-0 hammering of Costa Rica.
Flick had nothing however reward for Spain coach Luis Enrique on Saturday.
“I actually like speaking to him. He’s arrange this new younger workforce with younger gamers with a unbelievable high quality,” he stated.
For his half, Enrique, who on Saturday described Germany because the workforce that was probably the most much like Spain, stated he anticipated an open contest between the 2 European rivals.
Ought to Japan keep away from defeat in opposition to Costa Rica within the earlier kickoff on Sunday, Germany should beat Spain in the event that they want to keep away from back-to-back group-stage eliminations on the World Cup.
