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Wednesday's World Cup team news including Spain vs. Costa Rica

Sports Mole provides team news for all of today's World Cup fixtures, including Spain vs. Costa Rica.


Morocco vs. Croatia (Wednesday, 10.00am)

Morocco coach Walid Regragui in September 2022© Reuters

While Regragui will likely opt for much of the team which impressed in a 3-0 win over Georgia, some changes are expected with Sofyan Amrabat due to return in midfield.

Noussair Mazraoui should deputise at left-back, with Achraf Hakimi a certainty on the opposite flank, and the star names in the team will keep their places elsewhere.

Romain Saiss will skipper the team and play alongside Nayef Aguerd in the middle of defence, while Youssef En-Nesyri will be supported by Hakim Ziyech in the final third.

Meanwhile, Dalic is expected to opt for much of the Croatia team which begun the success over Austria in September, with Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic featuring in midfield as expected.

Josip Stanisic appears in line to get the nod at right-back, with Dalic's biggest decision seemingly being who to start in attack out of Bruno Petkovic and Kramaric.

Our tipster partners are predicting under 2.5 goals.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> How Croatia could line up against Morocco

> How Morocco could line up against Croatia

> World Cup 2022: Morocco vs. Croatia head-to-head record


Germany vs. Japan (Wednesday, 1.00pm)

Germany players pose for a team group photo before the match on September 26, 2022© Reuters

The pre-World Cup talk regarding the Germany camp was unsurprisingly focused on Marco Reus, who suffered yet another cruel injury blow to rule him out of the World Cup, having also missed Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and the triumphant 2014 tournament.

However, Germany are expected to be working with a fully-fit squad for the opening matchday barring knee victim Leroy Sane, with striker Niclas Fullkrug back from illness and the duo of Thomas Muller and Antonio Rudiger also returning to full training over the weekend.

Returning to the national team following his exile, Muller is now aiming to build on a record of 10 goals and six assists in 16 World Cup matches for Germany, and the Bayern Munich veteran will hope to get the nod to spearhead the charge.

As for Japan, Karou Mitoma and Wataru Endo have overcome illness and a head injury respectively to make themselves available, while Sporting Lisbon midfielder Hidemasa Morita is back from a calf problem and could be fit enough to start.

Arsenal right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu was rested against Canada following his recent muscular problem but should be fine to take his place in the team here, most likely alongside 122-cap skipper Maya Yoshida in the heart of defence.

Attacking options are rife within the Samurai Blue's ranks for the World Cup, and Takuma Asano's greater international experience compared to his fellow forwards should work in his favour.

Our tipster partners are predicting a home win.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> How Japan could line up against Germany

> How Germany could line up against Japan

> World Cup 2022: Germany vs. Japan head-to-head record

> World Cup 2022: Reasons for Germany to be confident of beating Japan


Spain vs. Costa Rica (Wednesday, 4.00pm)

Spain coach Luis Enrique celebrates with his players as Spain qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup in November 2021© Reuters

Jose Gaya has been forced to pull out of the Spain squad due to an injury, with Alejandro Balde called up as his replacement, but La Roja have no current fitness concerns in their squad.

Enrique has big decisions to make when it comes to his forward line, and Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres could ultimately get the nod alongside Alvaro Morata, who is the leading goalscorer in the squad with 27 goals.

It is set to be an all-Barcelona midfield, with Gavi and Pedri playing alongside Sergio Busquets, while Pau Torres is expected to get the nod alongside Aymeric Laporte in the middle of the defence.

Unai Simon will start between the sticks, while Dani Carvajal and Jordi Alba are preparing to line up in the full-back positions for Spain, who should be in a 4-3-3 formation.

As for Costa Rica, head coach Suarez is expected to set his side up in a 4-3-3 formation, which would become a 4-5-1 when they are not in possession of the ball.

Keylor Navas is a certainty between the sticks, while Francisco Calvo is set to be joined in the middle of the defence by Oscar Duarte, with Carlos Martinez and Bryan Oviedo in the full-back areas.

Celso Borges, who has made 155 appearances for the national side, should play off the right, with Anthony Contreras preparing to lead the line.

Former Arsenal attacker Joel Campbell has 25 goals in 119 appearances for the national side, and the 30-year-old will also feature in the final third of the field for La Sele.

Our tipster partners are predicting over 2.5 goals.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> How Costa Rica could line up against Spain

> How Spain could line up against Costa Rica

> World Cup 2022: Spain vs. Costa Rica head-to-head record

> World Cup 2022: Reasons for Spain to be confident of beating Costa Rica


Belgium vs. Canada (Wednesday, 7.00pm)

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring for Belgium on September 22, 2022© Reuters

The big concern in Belgium has surrounded the fitness of Lukaku in the build up to the tournament, and the Inter Milan man will not feature in this group opener, so Batshuayi is the likely starter, but Lois Openda is also in contention to appear.

After being one of their standout performers at Euro 2020, Thorgan Hazard has also dealt with injury problems over the last year, so Timothy Castagne or Yannick Carrasco may take his place at left wing-back.

Thorgan's brother Eden Hazard is a favourite of Martinez's despite his lack of game time at Real Madrid and will probably start on the left-hand side of a three-pronged attack.

While Martinez has been criticised for continuing to pick ageing players, teenage centre-back Zeno Debast looks set to start after Dedryck Boyata and Jason Denayer missed out on the squad.

Captain Atiba Hutchinson should win his 99th cap for Canada, making his first major tournament appearance almost 20 years after his debut.

Star player Alphonso Davies suffered a hamstring injury with Bayern Munich two weeks ago and is extremely doubtful for this encounter.

That is a huge blow for Herdman, as Davies is not only their main man, but is integral to how they may set up, given his versatility in being able to play full-back, wing-back, on the wing or as a number 10.

The majority of Canada's expected starting XI play in Europe, so this Belgian test will be nothing new for many of them, while Larin and Tajon Buchanan play in Belgium for Club Brugge.

Our tipster partners are predicting a home win.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> How Canada could line up against Belgium

> How Belgium could line up against Canada

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Barney Corkhill
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Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic in September 2022
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