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We still have time to mess this up!

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Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

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The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

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Second rate reporter says what?

Tick tock motherfuckers!

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

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You are here: Home / Sports / Sunday World Cup Open Thread: Belgium vs Morocco / Croatia vs Canada / Spain vs Germany / Cameroon vs Serbia

Sunday World Cup Open Thread: Belgium vs Morocco / Croatia vs Canada / Spain vs Germany / Cameroon vs Serbia

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SportsMole:

Aiming to put at least one foot in the knockout stages, Belgium continue their pursuit of a first World Cup on Sunday, when they meet Group F rivals Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium.

After edging out Canada in their opening match, the Red Devils will now seek to tame the Atlas Lions, who held Croatia to a goalless draw.

Having qualified with relative ease, averaging over three goals per game in the process, Belgium kicked off their latest quest for an elusive major trophy on Wednesday evening, as they tackled a nation who had been absent from the World Cup finals for nearly four decades…

While Belgium have now won each of their last eight group stage games at the finals, Morocco have found the going far tougher down the years, so their first-day draw with 2018 runners-up Croatia was celebrated as something of a victory.

Lauded for a solid defensive display after the teams’ contest in Al Khor, the Atlas Lions remain in the mix for last-16 qualification, which represents an acceptable state of affairs, as they have failed to even qualify for the World Cup in four of their last five attempts and took just one point from a tough group four years ago…

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Crotia vs Canada

SportsMole:

Croatia and Canada will both go in search of their first win and first goals in World Cup 2022 Group F during Sunday’s battle at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The Chequered Ones were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in their opening fixture, while the Canucks succumbed to the Red Devils of Belgium in a 1-0 loss.

Despite an eye-catching Nations League campaign which propelled them to a spot in the four-team finals, not many had Croatia down as contenders to match or even better their runners-up finish at the 2018 World Cup, and their feelings were justified on the opening day…

Nevertheless, the Canucks could take plenty of encouragement from their performance against the golden generation of Belgium, although that result already leaves them bottom of the standings in Group F, and their hopes of a last-16 berth will be dashed if results do not go their way this week.

Thirty-six years on from making their only previous appearance at the World Cup, Canada remain winless and goalless at the tournament after four matches – already the most of any nation in history – and Herdman is now out to ensure that his side do not match El Salvador’s record of six straight losses.

Posting just three shots on target from their 22 attempts against Belgium shows the area that Herdman must address, but the Canada boss has controversially warned that his crop will “F Croatia” as they prepare to meet the 2018 runners-up for the very first time.

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Spain vs Germany

The Independent:

Spain look to heap more misery on Germany with the prospect of pushing the four-time winners to the brink of an early World Cup 2022 exit.

Hansi Flick’s side endured a nightmare start to their campaign in Qatar when Japan pulled off a thrilling comeback by hitting two goals in eight minutes at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Meanwhile, Luis Enrique will be delighted by his side’s start, hitting seven in the thrashing of Costa Rica and discarding doubts over their potential in front of goal in the process.

“This team is not going to relax,” said Luis Enrique. “Germany can beat us because they are a powerhouse, but we’re going to go out and play the same way. Praise weakens, but this team is not going to relax. It has been a very special game for us. It is usually difficult for us to start competitions, but we have done very well. It has been a very important victory.”…

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Cameroon vs Serbia

Reader Interactions

52Comments

  4. 4.

    Steeplejack

    This is the first World Cup match I have watched, although I have seen bits and pieces of a couple, notably the Brazilian guy’s bicycle-kick goal on Thursday. I wasn’t consciously boycotting, but I’ve been put off by the general stink of corruption. Relented today because watching Premier League soccer is part of my Sunday routine as I check the Internet and catch up with Balloon Juice.

  9. 9.

    JML

    Morocco deserved that one. they’ve been playing on the front foot and really controlling the match. Belgium decided to leave a player off the front post and Morocco burned them for it. Lovely goal.

  12. 12.

    Repatriated

    From quoted tweet in OP:

    … Sunday’s battle at the Khalifa International Stadium.

    I read that as “Kafka International Stadium” at first and thought, “well, that makes sense.”

  20. 20.

    JML

    @Alison Rose: Belgium should not be ranked #2; they’re aging and everyone knows it. It’s definitely showing in World Cup, because Morocco ripped them up.

    Fair play to Morocco, who played bright, attacking football and deserved their goals and the win. Very few easy outs in this Cup and if you don’t bring your A game you can get sent home. Morocco is a nice squad, very fun to watch.

  25. 25.

    Alison Rose

    Now that must be an incredible feeling–scoring your nation’s first-ever WC goal!

    Also, was that the fastest goal scored thus far? I might be forgetting another quick one…

    ETA JP confirms fastest goal so far. Nice!

  27. 27.

    Alison Rose

    Found on FB:

    Alphonso Davies’ journey.

    2000: Born in a refugee camp
    2005: Moves to Canada to escape the civil war
    2016: Becomes the second youngest starter in MLS history
    2019: Wins the Bundesliga in his first season
    2020: Wins the Champions League
    2022: Scores Canada’s first ever World Cup goal

    WHAT A MOMENT IT HAD TO BE HIM!  🇨🇦

    Now that’s a life story! And dude just turned 22. He’s gonna add a lot more entries to that list, I’m sure.

  28. 28.

    JML

    Don’t care for the Dellacamera/Jones pairing on the mic. Jones isn’t as dreadful as he was in 2018, but he’s still not all that good, and Dellacamera talks a lot while saying little. (For me the best pairing is Darke & Donovan, even if they’re still getting comfortable with each other)

  29. 29.

    Alison Rose

    @JML: One thing I like about Donovan as a color commentator is that he doesn’t blather too much. Funny too how even though his voice is usually kind of flat, I can still always recognize it off like one word, LOL.

  30. 30.

    JML

    @Alison Rose: yep. Donovan talks when he has something to add…and if the game moves on from the point he wanted to make, he’ll just let it go, rather than keep talking about action that’s long gone. He’s still finding his way as a commentator, but he could be quite good. (I laughed very hard when Darke compared something to a World Cup match from the 70’s and Landon very dryly said “Well, Ian, I was 8 years old when that happened, so…”)

  38. 38.

    cmorenc

    @JML:

     Belgium should not be ranked #2; they’re aging and everyone knows it.

    I would still like to have Kevin DeBryne on my team, if I was choosing a team of mixed nationalities for a top-level European / EPL professional squad.  I see that the management of Man City agrees with me on that.

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