Un Marruecos-España en el Mundial de Qatar
The World Cup draw has brought no big surprises and complicated groups. Perhaps the clash in Group E between Spain and Germany is the most noteworthy.
Group F also attracts attention because of the four teams in the group.
Belgium and Croatia are considered world class, Morocco is one of the best teams on the African continent and Canada has been the surprise package ahead of Mexico and the United States in qualifying.
Morocco kick off their World Cup journey against Modrić's Croatia on 23 November, before facing the group's other top team, Belgium, on 27 November. Finally, they face Canada on 1 December.
If the Atlas Lions beat Canada and draw with either of the two European teams, Morocco, depending on the Belgium-Croatia result, could go through as group runners-up.
Spain will make their debut on 23 November against the winner of Costa Rica v New Zealand and, barring a major surprise, will win. After that, the highlight of the group and the group stage will take place: Spain Germany. Here we will see a priori who will be first in the group. We are counting on both teams to beat Japan.
If Spain wins or draws and the goal difference is in their favour, they will top the group and face the runner-up in group F.
Thus, on 5 December, a Spain-Morocco Round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup could be played.
Germany can undoubtedly top the group and leave Spain in second place.
This is football and even Vahid Halilhodzic's team with Achraf, Bounou, Saiss, En-Nesyri or the scorer against DR Congo and Angers player Azzedine Ounahi can knock out one of the big European favourites in the group and even finish first.
The other groups also have their favourites.
In Group A, hosts Qatar will face Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands. Senegal and the former Netherlands are clear favourites. The current African champions with Sadio Mané should have no problems against Qatar and Ecuador. And with Van Dijk, Depay, De Jong and Wijnaldum, the Netherlands are the other favourites in the group. Qatar as hosts have some advantage but it will not be enough to beat these two big teams.
In Group B England are the clear favourites. The other place in the Round of 16 will be between the winner of the remaining place between Scotland, Ukraine or Wales, USA and Iran. It will be a duel between the European team that qualifies and the Americans. It will be very close. Iran are well below their group-mates.
Messi will not have it easy in Group C. Saudi Arabia, a priori, will be the weakest team. Lewandowski leads a very strong Polish team that will compete with Mexico for the other place in the last 16.
Mbappé will be the star of Group D with France the favourites. It looks like one of the weakest groups. They are completed by Denmark, Tunisia and the winner between Peru, UAE and Australia.
Brazil top Group G and the other place will be played between Cameroon, Switzerland and Serbia. All three teams are very evenly matched.
Portugal, after suffering a lot to be in Qatar, have been placed in an easy group, a priori, group H. Ghana, Uruguay and North Korea complete the group.
In November we will see how the teams get to Qatar in a very strange World Cup due to the dates and other problems that have led to a lot of criticism.
On 5 December we will see if the match between neighbours takes place. A Morocco-Spain match could be a big event.
Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.
