The day after the qualification of Argentina by Lionel Messi, the astonishing Australia and Poland by Robert Lewandowski, opposed to France on Sunday, four new tickets for the round of 16 are up for grabs. And twists are not to be excluded by the end of the group stage on Friday evening.
Winners of the Belgians (2-0) on Sunday, Morocco is well placed to find the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time since 1986.
This will be done in the event of a draw or victory against Canadians already eliminated and so far harmless.
On the German side, after the inaugural defeat against Japan (2-1), the good draw obtained against Spain (1-1) restored momentum and qualification seems within reach of the Nationalmannschaft against Costa Rica, d especially with the return of Bayern Munich striker Leroy Sané.
– Hit the whistle –
This match will be followed for its sporting outcome, of course, but also for its symbolic significance: for the first time in the long history of the Men’s World Cup, a woman will be at the whistle.
It is a logical outcome for the Frenchwoman Stéphanie Frappart (38), who went from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1, from the European Super Cup to the Champions League, and who continues her pioneering trajectory… A signal also far from trivial in a country, Qatar, regularly criticized on the question of human rights, in particular the rights of women or LGBT minorities.
“It is also a strong sign from Fifa and the authorities to have women referee in that country”, said Stéphanie Frappart in September. “I am not a feminist spokesperson but if it can help things…”
While it will be in the center of the field and the planetary attention, it will also be necessary for the Germans to follow what will happen in the other meeting of group E and to hope that Spain does not fall against Japan.
Luis Enrique’s team, impressive against Costa Rica (7-0), less convincing against Germany (1-1) cannot relax: a defeat can still theoretically eliminate them. And against Germany, Japan showed what they were capable of.
– Belgium, an identity to recover –
For the Belgians, the path to salvation seems steeper: they will have to face the Croatian vice-world champions again with the game of a team so attractive in 2018, which has been enthroned at the top of the Fifa rankings for almost four years but which does not gives more on the ground hardly grounds for hope.
The Belgians are slow behind (by the players’ own admission); their creators Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard, once so enthusiastic, showed nothing, either in the victory against weak Canadians (1-0) or the defeat against the Moroccans.
“We need to rediscover our identity,” said Spain coach Roberto Martinez. It will also be necessary to find a semblance of unity within a group undermined by resentment, according to the Belgian press.
“We said things to each other – good ones, less good ones, maybe some things that didn’t please – but we talked,” assured Eden Hazard. “We know that we are having a more complicated time than usual, but we are all welded.”
The return of Romelu Lukaku in front and the undeniable talent of Thibaut Courtois in goal will not be too much against the Croatians, finalists in 2018.
In the event of a misstep and the elimination of Croatia, this match could be the last at the highest international level for a legend of the game, Luka Modric, “the little prince of Zadar”, aged 37, who appeared in his advantage against Canada after a complicated start against Morocco (0-0).
Even if according to Carlo Ancelotti, his coach at Real Madrid, the Ballon d’Or 2018, is “immortal”.
