Thread to discuss the football itself.
This is not a thread to discuss the hosting of the competition in Quatar.
You can discuss the hosting in the relevant thread.
Morocco take the lead!
Hang on, might be offside. Yep, it's chalked off. And that's half-time.
Belgium struggling to impose themselves. Morocco winning it back well but sloppy in possession.
Offside for me. Number 6
There's a shock lead for Morocco from a free kick right on the stroke of half-time. VAR might intervene though.
Has to be chalked off. Saiss clearly offside and clearly goes for it
Belgium off the hook big time
No goal. Belgium are so, so fortunate.
You’re right. Morocco doing well keeping it tight so far.
Lucky break, but at the same time if Saiss isn’t there I reckon Courtois claims it handy enough.
Not a bad game so far. Belgium very poor from all dead balls. Morocco attack on the break at speed makes it decent despite the inability in the last third to hit target.
De Bruyne looking a shadow of himself this tournament so far. Doing some tidy enough stuff, but not imposing himself the way we’d expect. Same applies to Belgium in general I suppose.
They really miss that sometimes-telepathic Lukaku-De Bruynne connection.
Boufal close there.
Do the locals not automatically support the 'Arab' team, especially against a big European one?
Could not believe the result from the early game, unreal.
Can't see Germany screwing up a second time. At least I hope not.
They probably would, if any locals had any interest in going to games (even their own 😅)
Boufal was Morocco's best player, I thought. Aboukhlal coming on is a good talent.
1-0 Morocco! I think that lead is deserved.
Good
Belgium are terrible
How have the Belgians put up with Martinez for so long, baffling
Bloody hell that was poor from Courtois, and Belgium in general.
Really look a lot less than the sum of their parts. Even if they progress it’s surely the end of Martinez anyway, but probably two campaigns later than it should have been. What a waste of a serious well of talent.
You walk away for a few minutes and you miss the only goal of the match.
Seen the replay, similar enough events to the first goal that was ruled out.
Aguerd has been quality again.
My man Aboukhlal!
2-0 Morocco. It's all over for sure now.
Very good finish placed in the top right hand corner.
De Bruyne with 2 back-to-back ineffective games. Not my best midfielder in the world.
Deserved win for Morocco. They are tough to break down and wouldn't be an easy opponent. Great chance to qualify for them.
Beaten by Morocco and outplayed by Canada, what a world cup Belgium are having.
Fair fecks to Morocco, fans and players in tears of joy That is what it is all about, no fluke either. And the Moroccan fans must be in the running for fans of the tournament?
I was thinking of the Japan v Costa Rica. Japan got caught out by complacency and making a load of changes. Like what Italy did in Euro 96 v the Czech Republic and underestimated the Czech team.
Delighted Belgium lost, they absolutely deserved zero from the Canada game as well. A team of spoofers.
Only once has a team lost their opening WC game, but then went on to win WC.
Spain 2010
