After Friday’s draw, the Canadian men’s soccer team knows its opponents for the 2022 World Cup, which begins next November in Qatar.
• Read also: FIFA World Cup: tough opponents for Canada
Belgium, Croatia and Morocco should be tough opponents for John Herdman’s men.
Here are five players Canada will need to watch in the group stage:
Kevin De Bruyne – Belgium
Kevin De Bruyne is the cornerstone of this Belgian golden generation, which is still looking for a first World Cup title. The midfielder will take part in this tournament for the third time and he was brilliant in qualifying with two goals and two assists in four games.
The Manchester City player is one of the best passers on the planet, but can also hit from afar. Let’s say that Canada will have a heavy command on November 23, in the opening match of Group F.
Romelu Lukaku – Belgium
If De Bruyne is one to watch in the second curtain of attack, Romelu Lukaku will be the biggest threat in the first. After a fruitful spell at Inter Milan, the 28-year-old striker stagnated back to England with Chelsea, but never lost his touch with the national team.
The Belgian with an impressive physique can strike from any place, with the head or the foot. Canadian goalies will have to keep an eye on it.
Yassine Bounou – Morocco
Yassine Bounou was simply exceptional in front of Morocco’s goal in qualifying. The Sevilla FC goalkeeper has allowed only two goals in eight games. The only downside, the 30-year-old goalkeeper was injured in the last match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, but he was encouraging about his state of health.
The match against Canada will undoubtedly be special for Bounou, who was born in Montreal. He left the Saint-Laurent district in 1999 to continue his training in Morocco.
Achraf Hakimi – Morocco
As a right-back, Achraf Hakimi has the same kind of profile as Alphonso Davies with Canada. Endowed with an exceptional top speed and able to dribble just as quickly, he has been one of the Moroccan team’s executives since 2016.
At just 23, Hakimi already has 48 caps behind the tie and has played for Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain since his professional debut.
Luka Modric – Croatia
Croatia have kept a low profile since losing the 2018 World Cup final to France, but if they qualified again in 2022, it was thanks to their iconic captain, Luka Modric.
The Real Madric midfielder continues to feed his teammates efficiently and also scores on occasion. In front of him, Croatia shows a diversified attack with Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Ante Rebic, in particular.