Wednesday at the 2022 World Cup: Germany, Spain and Belgium begin group stage campaigns

Belgium's final World Cup game is against Canada on Wednesday at 7pm. Germany, Spain, Belgium and 2018 finalists Croatia start their campaigns on day four of the 2022 World Cups in Qatar. Morocco play Croatia at 10 am, Germany play Japan at 1 pm and Spain play Costa Rica at 4 pm.

Germany, Spain and Belgium begin their World Cup 2022 group stage campaigns on Wednesday.

Canada are the underdog in their group at the 2022 World Cup. They are grouped with Belgium, 2018 finalists Croatia and Morocco. John Herdman's team is expected to perform badly. He is determined to upset the odds. He believes his players want to be part of the team that overachieves.

Jamal Musiala is a rising star in football. He has been compared to Lionel Messi. Germany's World Cup campaign starts against Japan on Wednesday. They also play Spain and Costa Rica. Germany lost in the first round at the 2018 World cup. Musuala believes his team can win the tournament. The Germans are eager to make up for their 2018 first-round exit.

Croatia are the 2018 World Cup runners-up. They are unfancied and bookmakers are offering 50-1 against them lifting the trophy this time around. Croatia have won their last five matches and lost once in 16 months.

Leroy Sane has a knee injury and will miss Germany's World Cup Group E opener against Japan. Lukaku is set to miss Belgium's first two games at least. Thomas Meunier trained on his own on Sunday. Jan Vertonghen got 20 minutes against Egypt. Milan Borjan and Stephen Eustaquio are fit for Canada. Luka Modric will play against Morocco. Marcelo Brozovic will start for Croatia. Spain and Belgium begin their World Cups on Wednesday.

Germany and Japan are meeting for the first time at the FIFA World Cup. Morocco and Croatia have only met in the Hassan II Trophy in 1996. Belgium are unbeaten in all 12 of their group stage games at World Cups since 1994. Spain's young players will make their global debut in their Qatar World cup opening match against Costa Rica. Canada's last World Championship appearance was in 1986. They will play in Qatar in 2022. They have the second longest gap between appearances in a World Championships after Wales. Their last appearance came in 1966.

Germany and Japan are meeting for the first time at the FIFA World Cup. Germany are unbeaten in their two previous encounters with Japan. Japan have won only one of their last eight matches at FIFA Cup (D3 L4). Morocco and Croatia are playing their first FIFA tournament match. Croatia won 7-6 on penalties in the Hassan II Trophy in December 1996. Belgium are undefeated in all 12 of World Cups group stage games. Canada's last World cup appearance was in 1986.

Episode two of the Essential Football World Cup podcast is out. England's opening game against Iran is on Wednesday. Germany, Spain and Belgium begin their group stage campaigns on the same day.