Summary

  • Sabiri puts Morocco in front with free-kick that beats Courtois at near post

  • Aboukhlal deservedly doubles their lead in stoppage time

  • Croatia v Canada (16:00 GMT) follows in Group F

  • Spain face Germany (19:00) in Group E after Costa Rica stun Japan

  1. Courtois the man for Belgiumpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Thibaut Courtois has made mistakes over the years, but what a period he's had over the last 18 months or so for Real Madrid and now Belgium.

    His side were indebted to him in their opener against Canada as he saved an early penalty from Alphonso Davies.

  2. 'Not a foregone conclusion'published at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Dion Dublin
    Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Morocco will go about it in their own quiet way. They'll back themselves.

    Some really good one-touch football in the warm-up.

    If Belgium turn up and want to play at their best, they'll win the game, but Morocco haven't just turned up to be the whipping boys for Belgium. They'll want to win.

    It's not a foregone conclusion for Belgium.

  3. Postpublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    As well as being able to watch this game, there is also commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and at the top of this page.

    Pien Meulensteen and Dion Dublin make up the commentary team for this one.

    You can also listen to that commentary, over the match pictures, on BBC Red Button or BBC iPlayer with World Cup Extra.

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  4. Concerns for Belgiumpublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Pablo Zabaleta
    Ex- Man City and Argentina defender on BBC One

    What concerns me about Belgium is that you have the big players coming out and saying, 'we're not as good as we were in 2014 or 2018'.

  5. 'We can give Belgium problems in midfield'published at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Walid RegraguiImage source, Getty Images

    Walid Regragui took over Morocco in September after Vahid Halilhodzic was fired.

    That means he's had little time to work with his side, but he's playing an upset against Belgium, as they look to come out of Group F, which he described as "the group of death".

    "Belgium are favourites, they have outstanding players and an excellent coach. They have great players even on the bench. It will be a tough game," he said.

    "We can give Belgium problems in midfield and technically we need to be much better... we need to keep possession and create chances, and if we do that we will keep Belgium under pressure."

  6. Lukaku on the way back for Belgium?published at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Chris Bevan
    BBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar

    Al ThumamaImage source, BBC Sport

    Far below me, and on the other side of the pitch, Romelu Lukaku has just been warming up with the rest of the Belgium substitutes - not that you need to do much 'warming up' in this heat.

    The Inter Milan striker is unlikely to feature today but boss Roberto Martinez says he is "ahead of schedule" in his recovery from a thigh injury. We might see him in their final game in Group F, against Croatia on Thursday.

  7. Sutton's predictionpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Chris Sutton World Cup predictions bannerImage source, BBC Sport

    Belgium got a bit of a scare from Canada but I am expecting them to be much better this time.

    Morocco weren't bad in their draw with Croatia, but we know the quality that Belgium have got.

    Sutton's prediction: 2-0

  8. 'Big day for Morocco'published at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Didier Drogba
    Former Ivory Coast striker on BBC One

    It's a big day for Morocco. After the draw with Croatia, they have to win. Let's see if we can have another African team winning at this World Cup.

  9. Stay focused on 'special' occasionpublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Morocco have four Belgium-born players in their squad.

    Midfielder Selim Amallah and forward Ilias Chair were born there, while midfielder Bilal El Khannouss and winger Anass Zaroury both played for Belgium at the youth level before switching sides to Morocco.

    But head coach Walid Regragui has encouraged those players to stay focused.

    "For any dual national .. they have a special emotion and that's a positive energy and you have to draw on that," Regragui said.

    "But it is a match that we need to win (irrespective) of who we are playing. We have to focus on that.

    "We know that this is a special match for them, but we have to put that into context. You cannot get too emotional because that could lead you to make mistakes. And that could be very expensive for us."

  10. Split loyalties await Moroccans living in Belgiumpublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Morocco fansImage source, Getty Images

    Questions of cultural identity and split loyalties among the huge Moroccan community in Belgium will arise in this game.

    People from the North African country form one of the largest migrant groups in Belgium, with strong links established in the 1960s when Moroccans flocked to the country responding to the demand for miners and workers in other industries.

    The Moroccan community in Belgium kept growing and is now estimated to be between 400,000 and half a million strong.

    Tensions were heightened five years ago when more than 20 police officers were injured in Brussels after celebrations following Morocco's qualification for Russia 2018 turned violent, and Sunday's match at the Al Thumama Stadium in Qatar could provide another flash point.

    "I will watch this match from an identity point of view," Mounim Bennis, a 40-year-old accountant living in Brussels of mixed Belgian-Moroccan origin, told BBC Sport Africa.

    "It's a match very close to my heart. When you are in Belgium you are considered a foreigner, when you go to Morocco you are considered a foreigner as well!

    "It's symbolic. It is very rare that Morocco participates in the World Cup [compared] to Belgium. It's the sixth time that Morocco goes, Belgium usually goes almost all the time, so I will support Morocco."

    Read more.

  11. get involved

    Get Involved via WhatsApppublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

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  12. Belgium are in 'inbetween phase'published at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Want to know what to expect from Belgium?

    Who better to ask than former defender and Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany.

    Have a listen to what the Burnley boss has to say below.

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  13. 'Teams will be ready only after three games'published at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Belgium looked off it in their opening game against Canada, but most importantly they got the win.

    This World Cup is taking place mid-season for European clubs and the lead-in time that is normally there for a major tournament wasn't this time round.

    Belgium boss Roberto Martinez believes that played a part in his side's performance.

    "We arrived at the first game with five (training sessions) and that means the team is not ready. We have seen teams start really well (in matches) but then they could not manage the game," he said.

    "You will see teams being ready only after three games. They are having to get ready while they are in the tournament and that is dangerous because it can cost you points."

  14. Postpublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    BBC One

    We're about to start an absolute festival of football on BBC.

    Coverage of Belgium v Morocco has just started on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and at the top of this page.

    Croatia v Canada at 16:00 GMT and Spain v Germany at 19:00 GMT are both on BBC too.

    What a Sunday line-up.

  15. Morocco here in forcepublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Chris Bevan
    BBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar

    Al ThumamaImage source, BBC Sport

    With both sets of fans decked out predominantly in red it was hard to tell who was here in greater numbers - until the teams came out for their warm-ups.

    All around the stadium, people were jumping out of their seats to give Morocco a very noisy welcome. Belgium emerged to a similar volume, but mostly just got loudly whistled.

  16. Last time out - Morocco held by Croatiapublished at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Morocco started their World Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Croatia.

    They showed glimpses of attacking promise, but lacked quality and precision in the final third.

    Both sides seemed happy to settle for a point, knowing it is likely they are competing for one spot in the last 16.

  17. Last time out - Belgium edge past Canadapublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Belgium were miles away from their best against Canada in their World Cup opener.

    They conceded an early penalty, that was saved by Thibaut Courtois before former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi fired in the winner.

    It was a good result, but Roberto Martinez will be wanting to see a better performance from his side today.

  18. How it standspublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    This is how Group F looks going into the second round of fixtures. All to play for, I would say.

    Belgium can secure qualification for the last 16 today.

    Neither Croatia or Morocco can progress or be eliminated today, but a Croatia win over Canada later (16:00 GMT) could put them in a strong position to progress depending on the result in this game.

    Canada would be out if they lose.

    Group F World Cup table: Belgium 3, Croatia 1, Morocco 1, Canada 0Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images
  19. TEAM NEWS - Two changes for Belgium, Morocco unchangedpublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Belgium v Morocco (13:00 GMT)

    Chris Bevan
    BBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar

    Belgium make two changes from the team that beat Canada in their opening match, with Thomas Meunier coming into defence for Leander Dendoncker and Amadou Onana replacing Yannick Carrasco in midfield.

    Belgium XI: Courtois, Castagne, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Meunier; Witsel, Onana, T. Hazard, De Bruyne, E. Hazard, Batshuayi.

    Belgium XI: Courtois, Castagne, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Meunier; Witsel, Onana, T. Hazard, De Bruyne, E. Hazard, Batshuayi.Image source, BBC Sport

    Morocco are unchanged from the side that drew 0-0 with Croatia, with Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech expected to be their main threat. He was involved in 50% of their eight attempts against Croatia, having two shots and creating two chances for his teammates.

    Morocco XI: Bounou, Mazraoui, Aguerd, Saiss, Hakimi, Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah, Ziyech, Boufal, En-Nesyri.

    Morocco XI: Bounou, Mazraoui, Aguerd, Saiss, Hakimi, Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah, Ziyech, Boufal, En-Nesyri.Image source, BBC Sport
  20. Postpublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2022

    Let's start with the team news from the Al Thumama Stadium...