Belgium and Canada open in Group F of the World Cup this Wednesday (23). The confrontation is scheduled for 4 pm (Brasília time), at the Ahmad Bin Ali stadium. The key also includes Morocco and Croatia.
This will be the first duel between the two countries in the history of the Cups. Overall, there was only one friendly match, played in 1989. On that occasion, the Belgians beat the Canadians 2-0.
Belgium arrives for the 14th participation in Cups. In the last one, in 2018, it won its best position in history: third place. Canada participated only once, in the 1986 World Cup, and did not even make it past the group stage that year.
Roberto Martínez has no great mysteries involving the main players. The base, inserted in the scheme 3-6-1, has the stars Courtois, Eden Hazard and De Bruyne guaranteed. Lukaku, on the other hand, has a thigh injury and should only play in the third game of the group stage.
Two doubts involve the 11 holders. On the right wing, Meunier disputes position with Castagne. In the centre-back, Debast, just 19 years old, can gain a chance as a starter to compensate for the advanced age of Alderweireld (33) and Verthongen (35). If the young Anderlecht defender does not play, he will be replaced by Faes or Dendoncker.
Canada The team must play in a 3-4-3 formation. To the delight of the Canadian crowd, coach John Herdman confirmed the lineup of left-wing Alphonso Davies, the national team’s star. The Bayern Munich player managed to recover from an injury recently suffered while playing for the club.
In the attack, highlight for Jonathan David, talented young man from Lille, France. The only doubt is between Buchanan and Adekugbe. If he opts for the former, who plays on the wing, he will keep Davies on the left wing. If you prefer a more cautious team, you will use left-back Adekugbe on the wing, pushing Davies further forward, to the left wing.
TOTAL GOALS: MORE THAN 2.5 GOALS
To reach the 2022 World Cup, the Canadians passed in first place in Group B of the North and Central American qualifiers. The team won all four games, scored 27 goals and conceded only 1.
Kevin De Bruyne and his teammates, on the other hand, have not performed at a high level in the Nations League. Thus, the Belgian team won only three matches, scoring 11 times and conceding 8 goals.
Due to the recent offensive power of the national teams, mainly Canada, we believe that the goals market is a great opportunity to have positive results. Even if it doesn’t have very attractive odds.
Even the main bookmakers are offering odds with values above 1.72, which is an attractive quote for the risk that the market has.
BELGIUM: UNDER 6.5 CORNERS
During the UEFA Nations League, one of the main European competitions, Belgium averaged 5.5 corners per game. Where in three games he had less than 5 corners and reached the mark of 10 corner shots only once.
Some fans tend to put their faith in corner markets, claiming they have a lower risk and a higher chance of a positive result. It is very common for fans to bet on corners added between the two teams, as it has a lower risk.
However, betting on corner kicks by only one selection is more difficult to get right. Still, some bookmakers are offering odds above 1.62 for this type of market.
