Having recorded their first point in the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup following a hard earned draw against 2018 losing finalists Croatia in their Group F opening match, Morocco’s resolve will once again be put to the test when they face Belgium in their second game on Sunday afternoon at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.Belgium, the 2018 semifinalists who are touted as one of the favourites for the title, got their campaign off to the perfect start after managing to miraculously keep out Canada in their opening game.يواجه المنتخب الوطني يوم غد المنتخب البلجيكي لحساب الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات بمنافسات كأس العالم قطر 2022 🇶🇦🔜 Second match for our Atlas Lions tomorrow against Belgium 🇧🇪#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #TeamMorocco #FIFAWorldCup @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/EZ07cv32K4— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) November 26, 2022 They weathered the storm and eventually prevailed 1-0, after seeing their opponents make 22 goal attempts, but emulating Brazil by claiming an eighth successive World Cup group stage win can’t mask what was an unconvincing start for the 2018 semi-finalists.While goalscorer Michy Batshuayi admitted afterwards that it was “not the best from Belgium”, he predicted they will get stronger as the tournament progresses, which they must as they prepare to meet sides with more World Cup experience, starting with Morocco.##NAJAVA_MECA_6843392##Morocco have plenty of support in Qatar and they showed plenty of endeavor against Croatia before drawing 0-0. The majority of the crowd left disappointed, however, after watching the tournament’s third goalless draw – more than in both World Cup 2018 and Euro 2020 combined!But with the team chasing a first World Cup win since June 1998 (D2, L2), the Atlas Lions will want that support to give them another lift, and they did win the most recent H2H – a 4-1 triumph in Brussels in 2008.Behind the dunes awaits Morroco. 🦁 #DEVILTIME #BELMAR pic.twitter.com/SepUyxVDf6— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) November 27, 2022 Key battle: Thibaut Courtois made several key interventions including a penalty save against Canada, keeping his first clean sheet since mid-September. Belgium will need him to be alert to the threat of Youssef En-Nesyri, who has scored three times across Morocco’s last eight matches, twice between the 50th and 60th minute.Hot streak: Belgium have not conceded prior to the 25th minute in any of their last 16 internationals (W8, D3, L5).Kakamega Homeboyz take hunt for maiden win of the season to KCB’s doorstepWorld Cup trivia: Morocco became the first African team to top a World Cup group when they did so in 1986.
