FIFA World Cup 2022

A look back at the previous 21 winners of the FIFA World Cup dating back to 1930. Who will add their name to the list in 2022? Photo: MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP.

World Cup 2022: Key players to look out for today

Today’s World Cup schedule sees four matches take place with two former champions in action. Any Gnabry, Pedri and KDB fans in the house?

FIFA World Cup 2022

A look back at the previous 21 winners of the FIFA World Cup dating back to 1930. Who will add their name to the list in 2022? Photo: MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP.

There are four World Cup matches to look forward to throughout the day. Let’s get right into the schedule and a few key players we’ll be watching closely.

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World Cup schedule for 23 November

WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER

  • 12:00 – Morocco vs Croatia
  • 15:00 – Germany vs Japan
  • 18:00 – Spain vs Costa Rica
  • 21:00 – Belgium vs Canada

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World Cup stars who could shine this afternoon

Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco)

The Sevilla man is a striker of genuine quality, just a quick glance at his track record over the last few years is proof of that. The 25-year-old has endured a slow start to the current LaLiga season, but we expect him to come up with the goods for his country.

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For Croatia, Tottenham utility full-back Ivan Perišić is his nation’s all-time leading scorer with 32 goals, and he’s struck five times at World Cups. The 33-year-old is so often the man for the big occasion.

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Serge Gnabry (Germany)

The Bayern Munich attacker has 9 goals and 6 assists this season across 20 Bundesliga and Champions League matches. At 27, he’s no longer a kid and will be one of the key men in a young Germany outfit gunning for glory in Qatar. Today’s opponents Japan will be relying on Bundesliga- based star Daichi Kamada for goals – he’s scored 12 already this season for Eintracht Frankfurt.

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world cup
Serge Gnabry will be a key figure for Germany in Qatar. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)

Pedri (Spain)

This will be the Barcelona wonderkid’s final football match as a teenager. He stood out at Euro 2020 and now he’s set for a mentor role alongside 18-year-old clubmate Gavi in midfield. What a player this guy is. What were you doing when you were 19 years old?

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Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

One of the Premier League’s outstanding performers in recent years, KDB is the complete midfielder and in his peak years and highly motivated to succeed with his country. That’s bad news for Canada today.

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Meanwhile, you can keep up on some daily World Cup trivia via football stats nerd foodball_za.

MORE: Insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game from James Freemantle