DOHA, Qatar — Morocco added to the list of shocks at the 2022 World Cup with a famous 2-0 win over Belgium.
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The North Africans thought they had taken the lead in first-half injury time, only for the VAR to rule out Hakim Ziyech‘s free kick for offside against Romain Saiss. But second-half strikes from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal made sure the points would go to Morocco.
Belgium now face the possibility of an early exit, while Morocco only need a point to make the round of 16.
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Rapid Reaction
1. It’s time to worry for Belgium
Just like four days ago, this match was going so badly for Belgium that at half-time that boss Roberto Martinez had to change something. Against Canada, it was some players; against Morocco, it was the tactical system. The Red Devils abandoned their wonky 3-4-2-1, with a hybrid back 3 or 4, for a more logical 4-2-3-1 with Eden Hazard moving from the left to the centre.
The first half was very poor with not enough movement or ball progression in midfield. Yet, despite a slight improvement (a shot from Hazard not long after the break and another one from Dries Mertens with 25 minutes to go), it again wasn’t good enough.
Martinez made further changes after an hour with Youri Tielemans and Mertens on for Amadou Onana and Hazard. The Hazard one is understandable because once more the captain was underwhelming, but the Onana substitution was harder to comprehend. Kevin De Bruyne moved central but he didn’t have much more of an impact there either. This is not his World Cup so far and it is a real shame.
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More worryingly, this has not been Belgium’s World Cup and there is a very real case for concern. This team doesn’t offer much and it can’t just be because of Romelu Lukaku‘s absence. And when the usual saviour, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, makes a mistake to cost you a goal, you know it’s not your day. On Friday, De Bruyne joked that Belgium could not win the World Cup because they were too old. He was wrong. If they don’t win the World Cup it will be because they have not been good enough, not because of their age. They were lucky to beat Canada (1-0) and they can still qualify by beating Croatia on Thursday. But right now, you would not put your house on it.
