World Cup Previews: Group C
It’s time for the third instalment in our series previewing every group at this year’s World Cup, and we have our first real big hitter in Group C. That’s right, it’s time for Scotland! This looks to be one of the most intriguing groups of the tournament, with Brazil far from the peak of their powers, Morocco technically the African champions (I think?), and Scotland and Haiti seem to never know when they’re beat. Needless to say, we could be in for a cracker! It’s almost an exact repeat of 1998’s Group A, let’s get stuck in to Group C.
Brazil
Qualifying
Brazil are always going to qualify for World Cups, but this year was much nervier than they’d have liked. Gone are the swashbuckling campaigns that saw the 5-time champs breeze into tournaments virtually unbeaten, this time they had to fight for it.
They ended up in 5th place in South American qualifying, 8 points clear of Bolivia in the play-off place and level with Paraguay and Uruguay. Notably, they had the second worst defence of those who qualified from South America and finished a whole ten points behind rivals Argentina. It’s far from a vintage Brazil squad either, although they obviously have the scattering of superstars we’ve become accustomed to over the last 80-odd years, and with it being Neymar’s final World Cup for A Seleção, he will be desperate to put an end to their 24-year drought in this tournament. Are this Brazil side capable of repeating the feats of those legendary teams of old? I’m not convinced.
One To Watch
Prior to the squad announcement, I was planning on dedicating this section to Chelsea forward Joao Pedro after his strong first season in blue. Bizarrely, he hasn’t been selected in the final 26, so I’ll have to pivot to Barca’s Raphinha. Not a bad second choice, mind.
The former Leeds man has had a tricky season with injuries, but still managed to hit 21 goals and 7 assists through the 33 games he played for Barcelona this time out. He’s been in stunning form for the last few years in Catalonia, and between him and domestic rival Vini Jr, Brazil have found the perfect players for Neymar to hand the baton across to. It feels like this tournament is a transitional one for Brazil. As Neymar bows out, the new generation takes his place. Can they all combine to win the most prestigious trophy in sport and cement Brazil’s place as kings of the World Cup?
Haiti
Qualifying
Haiti vs Brazil. This is what the World Cup is all about. The Haitian side are making only their second World Cup appearance, the first coming in 1974 where they finished bottom of a horrible group consisting of Poland, Argentina, and Italy. With spirits high and 3rd placed teams sneaking through, could they produce a miracle and make it to a first-ever knockout stage?
With the three biggest threats in North American qualifying all not involved due to hosting, this year’s tournament presented a real opportunity for some of the lower ranked nations in the region to have a run up at qualifying for the finals without being interrupted by a 7-0 loss to Mexico. Haiti comfortably made it through the first stage of CONCACAF qualifying, winning 3 from 4 and finishing 5 points clear of Aruba in 3rd, before moving on to the final group stage.
In a four team group with World Cup regulars Costa Rica, a solid Honduras side, and Nicaragua, Haiti weren’t fancied to pull up any trees. Only the first placed team would qualify automatically, too, and second would be thrust into the play-off system. Costa Rica fell flat on their face and, thanks to Nicaragua picking up their only win of the group over Honduras in the penultimate match, Haiti topped the group by 2 points having lost just once across the 6 games. Haiti are back at the World Cup for the first time in over 50 years. With all the political turmoil still raging on in Haiti, which meant that they had to play their home games in Curaçao for the duration of qualifying, this success story is nothing short of a miracle. Even if they lose every match 9-0, it’s an amazing achievement that the team and the people of the island can be immensely proud of. Anyway, they could easily beat Scotland.
One To Watch
Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor is the big name, having recently declared for Haiti following their qualification. He’s has made it into their final squad, but I simply have to go with one of their qualifying heroes in Duckens Nazon.
The forward currently plies his trade in Iran, but he’s also turned out in France, India, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Turkey, as well as short spells at Coventry, Oldham, and St. Mirren. Your standard run-of-the-mill career path, really!
He has a middling goal return through his career, but finished as the top scorer in the final CONCACAF qualifying stage with 6 goals to his name, including a stunning hat-tricky in a 3-3 draw away to Costa Rica. Haiti only scored 9 altogether across those matches, so his contribution at key moments has been vital to securing their place at the tournament. At 32 years old, he surely has one last big move in him after the tournament, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a desperate Championship club take a punt on Nazon if he performs solidly in these games. Watford, anyone?
Morocco
Qualifying
It’s been an interesting year to be a Moroccan football fan, that’s for sure.
They were handed a relatively easy qualifying group which they cruised through in style, winning 8 from 8, scoring 22 goals and conceding just 2 in the process. They then took part in the Arab Cup, going unbeaten across the tournament and winning it for the second time in their history with a 3-2 extra time victory against Jordan. The 2025 edition of the Arab cup was hosted in Qatar, as was 2021 and as will be 2029 and 2033… nothing to see here.
With a blemish-free World Cup qualification and the Arab Cup under their belts, Morocco went into this years AFCON as one of the favourites. They again went unbeaten in the groups, before dispatching Tanzania, Cameroon, and Nigeria on their way to the final having conceded just once in the tournament thus far.
You’re all well aware want went on in the final, and since, I’m sure. For those that have somehow steered clear, the final against Senegal remained 0-0 up until the 5th minute of added time, when Morocco were awarded a last-gasp penalty. The Senegal players decided to leave the pitch in protest, causing delays of nearly 20 minutes before Brahim Diaz finally stepped up and dinked his penalty straight into the hands of the ‘keeper. Papa Gueye then went on to win the game 1-0 in extra time for Senegal.
All of this would have been controversial enough, but then the authorities at the CAF voided the result of the game awarded the title to Morocco two months after the match was played, stating that Senegal had actually forfeited the game by walking off the pitch in the manor they did. So, depending on who you ask, Morocco are/n’t African champions. Either way, they’ve had a brilliant run-in to this World Cup and look on the top of their game, I think they could surprise a few.
One To Watch
Poor old Brahim Diaz. Despite winning the golden boot at AFCON, it all ended in tears with that missed penalty in the final. Couple that with being a bit-part player for Real Madrid in the final few months of the season, Morocco’s star boy could really do with some cheering up.
An opportunity to express himself on the biggest stage could be exactly what he needs. He’s still only 26, so he has a lot of life left in him, and there are already rumours of clubs circling now he’s lost his place in the Madrid lineup. He might want to stay and fight for his spot under new gaffer Mourinho, or he might opt to take the leap on to a new club this summer to try and take his career to the next level and become a key figure in a new side’s frontline. Either way, a strong showing in North America could be the spark that reignites his club career.
Scotland
Qualifying
Scotland’s qualifying journey was rocky to say the least, but Steve Clarke has finally done it. For the first time since 1998, Scotland will travel to the World Cup!
The unlikely hero in this tale? Belarus, somehow. With Scotland losing in typical style to 10-man Greece, Denmark just had to beat a Belarus side that had lost every game in qualifying up to that point, and scored just twice in the process, to guarantee themselves an automatic place at the tournament at the Scots’ expense. Somehow, the Belarusians managed to score twice in 3 minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw in Copenhagen and set up a final game between Denmark and Scotland at Hampden for a place in the finals. A draw or a win for the Danish would see them advance, and Scotland needed a victory. I’m sure you’ve seen it, but what happened next was nothing short of magical. And that’s coming from an England fan.
King of Naples Scott McTominay opened the scoring with an inch-perfect bicycle kick, a moment that has now become so iconic it has been immortalised on the Scottish £20 note. Despite falling down to 10 men around the hour mark, the Danes fought hard to earn a 2-2 draw and break Scottish hearts. That was, until Kieran Tierney popped up with a stunning winner in the third minute of added time. As Scotland piled forward desperately searching for a goal by launching long balls into the area, the Danish defence could only clear it as far as Tierney 25 yards from goal. He hit his shot first time through the crowd and bent it beautifully inside the far post to send Scotland to North America. If that wasn’t sweet enough, Kenny McLean added the cherry on top as he made it 4-2 with his goal from the halfway line 5 minutes later with the whole Denmark team camped in the Scottish box. Full-time whistle. They had done it.
Now, just the small matter of actually turning up in the tournament to go.
One To Watch
I’d love to be a hipster and bang on about how good Lawrence Shankland is, or how 19 year-old Tyler Fletcher will be the one to unlock Brazil’s defence, but my word Scott McTominay is just unbelievable.
The reputational shift he’s undergone since swapping Manchester for Naples is unprecedented, and it has to go down as one of the best transfer deals of recent years, especially for the player himself. He’s gone from a joke periphery figure in a sinking United side to the talisman behind Napoli winning the Scudetto, and a hero in the city. They’re naming pizzas after him, for Christ’s sake. They’re saying he’s their best player since Maradona. Scott McTominay. THE Scott McTominay. Who’d have thought it?
Napoli fell short in their title defence this year, finishing second behind Inter, but McTominay was still pivotal in everything positive the club put together on the pitch. It wasn’t enough to retain his Serie A player of the season crown, but he still has the adoration of Naples and contributed 14 goals and 3 assists across Serie A and the Champions League this campaign. He’s not a creative midfielder, he’s a physical monster designed to win the ball high up the pitch and punish you with his elite finishing ability. He’s wins his battles, drives forward with the ball, finds a teammate, and then crashes late into the box to bury a crucial goal. What more do you want in your talisman?
Scotland’s reemergence as a side capable of qualifying for big tournaments is reflected in McTominay’s career revival. When he scored that beauty at Hampden, he didn’t go crazy, he didn’t whip his shirt off or look around in disbelief, he was the picture of calm. Pounding his chest and letting the crowd know, “don’t worry, I’ve got this”. Scotland aren’t a joke anymore. Mctominay isn’t a joke anymore. The big man will want to drag them one step further into the knockouts for the first time in their history.
Prediction
1. Morocco
2. Brazil
3. Scotland
4. Haiti
I’m going bold this time out! There’s always some shocks, and there’s usually a dark horse, and this time Morocco are my pick to surprise a few. Brazil have obvious weaknesses, particularly at full-back, that can be exploited by Morocco’s excellent wide players. Their forward line is strong, but nowhere near the level of Brazil teams of the past, and the big physical presences of Scotland and Morocco will cause them some bother. I still think they make it through, but it won’t be smooth. I also reckon Scotland will be one of the 3rd placed teams that qualify through to the knockouts, which would be momentous for them. Unfortunately for Haiti, I can’t quite see them picking up a result here, but their qualification is a monumental achievement and hopefully they can raise some awareness for the terrible situation they’re dealing with on the island and generate the support they need. Morocco have had a near-perfect run in to the tournament, and I think that will continue through the groups. They aren’t stopping at the round of 32, either!